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Eosinophilic Myositis
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Overview of Eosinophilic Myositis 
Eosinophilic myositis syndrome is also known as sacrocystosis, intracellular protozoan parasites, myositis, trypanosomiasis and Trypanosoma cruzi infection. This parasite primarily affects animals, although rarely it can affect the skeletal muscle or cardiac muscle of humans.
The disease is found throughout the world, although most cases are found in Southeast Asia. In some endemic areas, over 20% of the population have been infected. The disease is not directly fatal, although the muscle of the heart may be affected.
Causes of Eosinophilic Myositis
Sacrocystis infection is caused by an intracellular protozoan parasite. Humans can serve as the host for this parasite or rarely can serve as an intermediate host.
There are two separate forms of Sacrocystis infection. Ingestion of food or water contaminated with sporocysts from the feces of an infected animal, such as a dog, is followed by sporocysts penetration of the intestinal wall. The organism proliferates and is spread through the vascular system to skeletal and cardiac muscle. When the cysts die, they produce an inflammatory process involving fibrosis and vasculitis of the tissue (Eosinophilic myositis).
Humans can also ea meat contaminated with oocysts. Under these conditions, the parasite matures in the intestinal tract. It gives off more oocysts that are shed in the stool A systemic phase of the disease, where the muscle is involved, does not occur with this form of the disorder.
Signs and Symptoms of Eosinophilic Myositis
Eosinophilic myositis, or the myositis form of Sarcosporidiosis, produces painful muscle swellings. There may be weakness of the involved muscles and they may be tender to the touch. Fever may occur as well as redness over the involved muscles. In general, involvement of the cardiac muscle is not symptomatic. However, some cases of arrhythmia, or irregular heart beats, have been described. Occasionally, wheezing or difficulty breathing may occur.
After ingesting pork or beef contaminated with the cysts, abdominal pain usually begins within a day. The individual appears ill, with fever, chills, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
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Medical Content Last Updated on 07/12/2008
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