133281 20260217205504.0 doi 10.3390/vetsci11030103 sideral 138046 ART-2024-138046 eng Peris, María Paz Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-5750-3643 Identification of sarcocystis spp. in slaughtered sheep from Spain and evaluation of bradyzoite viability after freezing 2024 Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted Sarcocystis spp. are complex apicomplexan parasites that cause a substantial economic impact on livestock used for meat production. These parasites are present worldwide. Our study aimed to identify Sarcocystis species affecting sheep meat in southern–central Spain and to evaluate the effectiveness of freezing for parasite inactivation. A total of 210 condemned samples of sheep meat were thoroughly assessed grossly and microscopically; the presence of macro- and microcysts was confirmed. The samples were then frozen at −20 °C for various time intervals (24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 h) and compared with untreated samples. Bradyzoites were isolated through pepsin digestion for subsequent molecular analysis and viability assessment, employing trypan blue and double fluorescence staining techniques. Our measurements confirmed the presence of S. tenella, S. gigantea, and S. medusiformis in Spanish domestic sheep. Freezing for 96 to 144 h resulted in a significant reduction in parasite viability, with a robust correlation observed between the two staining methods. Both stains effectively measured the viability of Sarcocystis, thereby promising future advances in meat safety. info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/A05-17R info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/RTC-2017-6594-2 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es 2.3 2024 VETERINARY SCIENCES 30 / 170 = 0.176 2024 Q1 T1 0.653 2024 Veterinary (miscellaneous) 2024 Q1 3.5 2024 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Gracia, María Jesús Moreno, Bernardino Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-6629-6842 Juan-Puente, Paula Morales, Mariano Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-9778-6545 Serrano, María Manzano, María Dolores Halaihel, Nabil Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-4121-8087 Badiola, Juan Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-7173-7216 Castillo, Juan Antonio Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-2048-4749 1009 773 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Patología Animal Área Sanidad Animal 11, 3 (2024), 103 Veterinary Sciences 2306-7381 1671309 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/133281/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2733393 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/133281/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:133281 articulos driver 2026-02-17-20:22:55 ARTICLE