eMedicine - Sarcosporidiosis : Article by Raphael J Kiel, MD

Sarcosporidiosis (Sarcocystis infection) is caused by an intracellular protozoan parasite that predominantly affects animals. It can rarely be found in human skeletal and cardiac muscle when humans are the intermediate or accidental host. Humans can also serve as the definitive host for this parasite after ingesting the cysts in raw or undercooked beef or pork.