Trichinosis is caused by a nematode worm, Trichinella spiralis (and some other species of Trichinella) causes no clinical effects on the pig but represents a major zoonotic hazard to those consuming Imperfectly Undercooked or cured pork products. Trichinosis may affect human health. There are no effects in life, but meat can cause human diarrhea, vomiting, even death.
- Causes of Trichinosis >
- Effects of Trichinosis >
- Diagnosis of Trichinosis >
- Treatment & Control of Trichinosis >
Causes of Trichinosis
Caused by a nematode worm, Trichinella spiralis (and some other species of Trichinella) causes no clinical effects on the pig but represents a major zoonotic hazard to those consuming undercooked pork or imperfectly cured products.
Infection occurs in countries with wild boar or infected carnivore populations. The larvae are eaten as cysts in meat, excyst in the small intestine, mate and the females burrow into the gut wall to give rise to larvae which encyst in the muscles.
Encysted larvae may remain viable for 10 years and give rise to trichinosis in man when eaten.
Effects of Trichinosis
None in the pig
Diagnosis of Trichinosis
Albendazole has been shown to eliminate larvae at 10 mg/kg. At slaughter, infection can be detected in the diaphragm, neck muscle or tongue using trichinoscopy (squashing the muscle to see the larvae with a microscope).
Antibody can be detected in serum or in meat juice by ELISA methods, using excretory antigen and monoclonal antibodies. Antigen is present in the blood for 1-4 weeks and 10-14 weeks after infection.
The Polymerase Chain Reaction (RAPD-PCD) has been used. In countries such as The Netherlands which are essentially T. spiralis-free, the sampling of foxes which act as reservoirs of T. britovi has been suggested as being of greater value than trichinoscopy.
At slaughter, small portions of diaphragm muscle are subjected to the pooled digestion test in which digestion resistant larvae and cysts are separated from the muscle debris and identified by microscopy.
Treatment & Control of Trichinosis
Albendazole has been shown to eliminate larvae at 10 mg/kg. In the EU, the prevention of infection of the human population is by inspection of all pigs slaughtered in countries with Tricinella species in their pigs or wild carnivores.
All wild boar, adults and animals kept outdoors undergo inspection. Inspection may not be required for farms with no infection and adequate biosecurity, but only after inspection by the Competent Authority (State Veterinary Service)
