Sarcocystis is an apicomplexan protozoan
belonging to same phylum as
toxoplasma. The
parasite encysts inside
striated muscles of its intermediate host.
Humans are accidental host infected by
eating food or
water contaminated with
oocysts or
sporocysts of an infected definitive host. The
infection is increasing in
Southeast Asia and may be overlooked in histological sections if one is not aware of the histomorphological features. The size and shape of the bradyzoites and the appearance of the
cyst wall are the reliable features to distinguish this
parasite from other
parasites of the same phylum. The
incidence of
human infection is rising in
Southeast Asia and histopathology is an important
method for the
diagnosis of muscular
infection. It is important to recognize the histomorphology of this
parasite and its differentiation from
similar parasites.