1.Detection of human Sarcocystosis using dried blood on filter papers: An Immunofluorescent Antibody Test
Sharudin, P.S. ; Rahimi, R. ; Latif, B. ; Kutty, M.K ; Muslim, A. ; Abdul Rahim, A.S. ; Abdul Aziz, M ; Mahfudz, A.S. ; Lim, Y.A.L ; Heo, C.C. ; Md Noor, S. ; Hiu, J ; Hussaini, J.
Tropical Biomedicine 2019;36(2):453-458
Sarcocystosis, a parasitic infection caused by a protozoa belonging to the genus
Sarcocystis, is found worldwide in both and animals. Sarcocystis spp., require two animal
hosts to complete their life cycle. The infection has gathered more global attention after
recent outbreaks, especially amongst wester travellers to Malaysia. Other than sporadic
cases and the current outbreaks, little information is available regarding human Sarcocystis
infection in Malaysia. The present study aims to determine the prevalence of sarcocystosis
among humans using an immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test applied to dried blood on
filter papers. A total of 200 blood samples were collected on filter papers from autopsy cases
at two Malaysian hospitals: Sungai Buloh Hospital (peninsular Malaysia) and Queen Elizabeth
Hospital (Malaysian Borneo). Antigens were prepared from bradyzoites harvested from positive
goats’ muscle samples. Of the 200 samples, 32 (16%) had Sarcocystis antibodies that showed
positive fluorescence reactions on filter papers. There was no significant difference (t-test,
p value > 0.05) in prevalence rates between samples collected from autopsies at peninsular
Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. The results demonstrated that the filter paper technique can
be used as one of the alternative serological tests in the diagnostic of human sarcocystosis.
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