Abstract
Sarcocystis
spp. are intracellular protozoan parasites with an intermediate-definitive host life cycle based on a prey–predator relationship. Sarcocystis infection is common among different vertebrates including humans. The pathogenicity of
Sarcocystis
spp. is of varied significance including a possible lethal effect for the host. The goal of the present study was to investigate the inflammatory activity of
Sarcocystis
spp. in different organs of naturally infected camels. The tongue, esophagus, heart, diaphragm, and skeletal muscles were collected from 50 camels, and the tissues assessed for the presence of
Sarcocystis
spp. by macroscopic examination, light microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, expression of the interleukin (IL)-6 was analyzed using reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Microscopic
Sarcocystis
spp. cysts were found in camels. TEM identified the cysts as
Sarcocystis camelicanis
(
S. camelicanis
).
Sarcocystis
infection increased inflammation by stimulation of IL-6 expression in different organs of the camels, particularly in those from the Al-Qassim region.