Zoonotic potential of bovine Sarcocystis species: a challenge for public health and meat inspection.

Foodborne parasitic diseases remain a neglected public health issue worldwide. Sarcocystosis, caused by the ingestion of tissue cysts of Sarcocystis species, represents a growing challenge for food safety and public health. Cattle serve as intermediate hosts for several Sarcocystis species, including those with confirmed zoonotic potential such as S. hominis, S. heydorni, and the recently described S. sigmoideus (2024/2025). In humans, intestinal sarcocystosis often presents with gastrointestinal distress, whereas extraintestinal (muscular) infections can lead to severe clinical manifestations, including acute eosinophilic myositis and, rarely, neurosarcocystosis. Despite these risks and the high epidemiological prevalence in beef herds worldwide, current sanitary inspection methods in abattoirs are primarily based on macroscopic visual examination. Said approach frequently fails to detect microscopic cysts, allowing the latent transmission of these pathogens. This review addresses the biology, clinical manifestations across different hosts (humans, bovines, and equines), and epidemiology of bovine sarcocystosis. We discuss the limitations of conventional morphological diagnosis and the critical need for molecular tools to accurately differentiate zoonotic from non-zoonotic species. Finally, we highlight the need for adopting a One Health approach, integrating sensitive diagnostic methods into the meat production chain to mitigate the risk of human infection and ensure global food safety.