PREVALENCE OF MUSCULAR BOVINE SARCOCYSTOS IS IN THE CALVADOS (NORMANDY-FRANCE)

During 1992, in the Calvados (Normandy), 5 bovine carcasses were conde mned because of grossly visible Sarcocysts or eosinophilic granulomato us myositis with a prevalence of 0,002 p.cent of slaughtered cattle. M icroscopic Sarcocysts were detected in domestic cattle by classical hi stology at the rate of 80 p.cent, more frequently in the heart (75 p.c ent) than the oesophagus (50 p.cent). Older animals seemed to have the higher infection rates. Control of microscopic sarcocystosis would pr obably fail because of the high prevalence. However, control of bovine sarcocystosis seems to be useless for public health is not affected a nd economic losses in slaughter plants are still low.