Samples from fresh muscles of 2-12 years old buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) from Al-Shuala,
Baghdad were examined for Sarcocystis infection. Macroscopic ovoid Sarcocystis
embedded in the muscle tissues of the examined buffalo were detected, they measured 150-
223 (209+7) μm length and 35-130 (85+3) μm width. Esophagus was the highly infected
organ followed by diaphragm, tongue while the heart muscles were the lowest infected part.
The cyst cavity was compartmentalized by septa derived from the ground substance located
under the primary cyst wall. By TEM, the primary cyst wall bordered sarcocysts, 0.08-0.22
μm in thickness, raised from the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane and surrounded by a
secondary cyst wall of host origin. The primary cyst wall had irregular wall folds with
numerous cauliflower projections of variable size and shape accompanied with a knob-like
electron dense elevation. The interior of the cyst contained merozoites consisted of the
structural elements of the Apicomplexa, polar rings, micronemes, conoid and rhoptries.