What is Sarcocystosis?
Sarcocystosis is an infection caused by single-celled parasites called Sarcocystis. These parasites are found in animals and can infect humans in two different ways, causing two distinct forms of the disease. The first form, called intestinal sarcocystosis, happens when a person eats undercooked beef or pork that contains the parasite. This form mainly causes stomach and digestive problems. The second form, called muscular sarcocystosis (also known as muscular or systemic sarcocystosis), happens when a person accidentally swallows parasite eggs from contaminated water or food touched by animal feces. In this form, the parasites travel through the body and form cysts inside muscle tissue. Symptoms vary depending on which form a person has. Intestinal sarcocystosis can cause nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting, usually starting within hours to days of eating contaminated meat. Muscular sarcocystosis can cause fever, muscle pain, swelling, and weakness, and symptoms may come and go over weeks or months. Most people with intestinal sarcocystosis recover on their own without specific treatment. Muscular sarcocystosis can be more difficult to treat, but anti-parasitic medications and anti-inflammatory drugs are often used to help manage symptoms. Serious complications are rare but can occur in people with weakened immune systems.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Stomach cramps or abdominal painNausea and vomitingDiarrheaFeverMuscle pain or achingMuscle weaknessSwelling in musclesFatigue and tirednessHeadacheSkin rash or swelling under the skinLoss of appetiteJoint pain
- Inheritance
- Sporadic
- Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
- Age of Onset
- Variable
- Can begin at different ages, from infancy through adulthood
Treatments
Source: openFDA + DailyMed · NDA / BLA labels with structured indications · refreshed weekly
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Sarcocystosis.
View clinical trials →Clinical Trials
View all trials with filters →Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced daily · phases, status, and PI names normalized at ingest
No actively recruiting trials found for Sarcocystosis at this time.
New trials open frequently. Follow this disease to get notified.
Source: NPI Registry + PubMed · trial PI roles cross-referenced with ClinicalTrials.gov · ranked by match score (publications + PI activity + community signal)
Treatment Centers
8 centersSource: NORD Rare Disease Centers + NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) · centers verified active within last 12 months
Children's Hospital Colorado Rare Disease Program ↗
Children's Hospital Colorado
📍 Aurora, CO
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDBoston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program ↗
Boston Children's Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🏨 Children'sAnn & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital Genetics ↗
Lurie Children's Hospital
📍 Chicago, IL
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🏥 NORDCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ↗
Cincinnati Children's
📍 Cincinnati, OH
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🏨 Children'sNationwide Children's Hospital Rare Disease Center ↗
Nationwide Children's Hospital
📍 Columbus, OH
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Sarcocystosis.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Sarcocystosis.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Sarcocystosis
Source: PubMed + NIH RePORTER + openFDA + clinical-journal RSS · last 30 days · disease-tagged at ingest by AI extraction with human QC
No recent news articles for Sarcocystosis.
Follow this condition to be notified when news becomes available.
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.Which form of sarcocystosis do I have, and how does that affect my treatment options?,Do I need a muscle biopsy to confirm the diagnosis, and what does that procedure involve?,What medications do you recommend, and what are the possible side effects?,How long is my recovery likely to take, and what signs should prompt me to come back sooner?,Are there any dietary or activity restrictions I should follow during recovery?,Could my immune system be affected, and do I need any additional tests?,Is there a risk of the infection coming back, and how can I prevent reinfection?
Common questions about Sarcocystosis
What is Sarcocystosis?
Sarcocystosis is an infection caused by single-celled parasites called Sarcocystis. These parasites are found in animals and can infect humans in two different ways, causing two distinct forms of the disease. The first form, called intestinal sarcocystosis, happens when a person eats undercooked beef or pork that contains the parasite. This form mainly causes stomach and digestive problems. The second form, called muscular sarcocystosis (also known as muscular or systemic sarcocystosis), happens when a person accidentally swallows parasite eggs from contaminated water or food touched by animal
How is Sarcocystosis inherited?
Sarcocystosis follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
Which specialists treat Sarcocystosis?
15 specialists and care centers treating Sarcocystosis are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.
Frequently asked questions about Sarcocystosis
Auto-generated from canonical disease facts (Orphanet, OMIM, ClinicalTrials.gov, openFDA, NPPES). Not a substitute for clinical guidance.
What is Sarcocystosis?
Sarcocystosis is a rare disease catalogued in international rare-disease ontologies (Orphanet ORPHA:54368). It is typically inherited as sporadic. Age of onset is generally variable. For verified primary sources, see the UniteRare Sarcocystosis page.
How is Sarcocystosis inherited?
Sarcocystosis follows sporadic inheritance. Genetic counseling is recommended for affected families to understand recurrence risk in offspring and the likelihood of unaffected siblings being carriers. Variants in the underlying gene(s) may be identified via clinical genetic testing.
Are there FDA-approved treatments for Sarcocystosis?
Approved treatments for Sarcocystosis are tracked from openFDA and DailyMed primary sources. Many rare diseases have no specific FDA-approved therapy; for those, supportive care and management of complications form the basis of clinical care. Orphan-drug-designation status is noted where applicable.
Are there clinical trials for Sarcocystosis?
Active clinical trials for Sarcocystosis are tracked daily from ClinicalTrials.gov. Trial availability changes frequently; check the UniteRare trial listings for the current count and recruitment status. Sponsors of rare-disease research often welcome inquiries even when a trial is not actively recruiting at a given moment.
How do I find a specialist for Sarcocystosis?
UniteRare lists 15 verified clinicians with documented expertise in Sarcocystosis, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal-investigator records, PubMed publication histories, and the NPPES NPI registry. Filter by state or browse our state-specific specialist pages for nearby options.
See full Sarcocystosis page for complete clinical details, sources, and verified-specialist listings.
Cite this page
Select a citation format above to view and copy.