Occurrence of cattle Sarcocystis species in raw kibbe from Arabian food establishments in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, and experimental transmission to humans.

Fifty samples of raw kibbe from 25 Arabian restaurants in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, were examined for the presence of bovine Sarcocystis species, using light and electron microscopy, and for infectivity to humans. Sarcocysts were found in all 50 samples. Based on cyst wall structure, S. hominis (94%), S. hirsuta (70%), and S. cruzi (92%) were identified (mostly as mixed infections). Different raw kibbe samples, positive for S. hominis in fresh preparations, were offered as a meal for 7 human volunteers. Six volunteers (85.7%), 2 of whom developed diarrhea, excreted sporocysts in feces. The prepatent period lasted 10-14 (12 +/- 1.8) days and the patent period lasted 5-12 (8.8 +/- 1.1) days.