Quality of Buffaloeʹs Meat Infected with Sarcocysts

Although buffaloes meat is one of the most important sources of animal protein for a wide range of consumers, but unfortunately there is a wide spread of Sarcocysts in their meat, such infection often results in much economic losses in addition to it is possible zoonosis to human. This study was planned to investigate the possible additional harmful effect of such parasite on meat quality. The obtained resuls revealed a noticeable increase in the total aerobic count, total enterobacteriaceae count, moisture percent, ash percent and pH value and marked decreases in the protein and fat percents of infected samples as compared with the non infected samples. Also, results revealed that parasitism has no significant effect on the number of Staphylococcus aureus or total mould and yeast. In conclusion, Sarcocysts in buffaloes meat cause serious changes which may greatly lower the meat quality, lowering its grade and may render it completely unacceptable