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Bandino E, Gomez-Morales MA, Brundu D, Soddu M, Ludovisi A, Cabras PA, Loi F, Pintore A, Pozio E. The illegal rearing and slaughtering of pigs in the wild on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia favor an increase in the biomass of Trichinella britovi in wild boars (Sus scrofa) but do not affect the serological prevalence of infection. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:323. [PMID: 37697408 PMCID: PMC10496314 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05927-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Worms of the nematode genus Trichinella are zoonotic pathogens with a worldwide distribution. The first report of Trichinella on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia was for Trichinella britovi, one of the four species of this genus circulating in Europe, which was identified in 2005 following an outbreak of trichinellosis in humans due to the consumption of pork from pigs reared in the wild. Since then, T. britovi larvae have been repeatedly isolated from free-ranging pigs, foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and wild boars (Sus scrofa) sampled in the central-eastern region of the island (Orgosolo municipality), but have never been isolated from samples from other areas of the island. The aim of this study was to investigate the parasitological and serological prevalence of T. britovi infection in wild boars in Sardinia over space [eight wild boar hunting management units (HMUs)] and time (seven wild boar hunting seasons). METHODS Muscle and serum samples of boars killed in the 2014-2015 to 2020-2121 hunting seasons were collected from eight HMUs of central and south-western Sardinia. Trichinella sp. larvae were detected by artificial digestion of predilection muscles. A total of 4111 serum samples of wild boar were collected from the investigated HMUs and tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as a screening test and by western blot as a confirmatory test using excretory/secretory antigens. RESULTS Trichinella britovi muscle larvae were detected in six (0.03%) of the 17,786 wild boars tested. All of the Trichinella sp.-positive wild boars had been hunted in Orgosolo municipality (central-eastern area of the island), except for one, hunted in a neighboring municipality. An overall serological prevalence of 3.8% (95% confidence interval, 3.3-4.5) was detected by western blot. No statistical differences were detected between the HMUs where T. britovi larvae were detected in wild boars, foxes, and free-ranging pigs and those where wild boars, foxes and free-ranging pigs tested negative. CONCLUSIONS The serological prevalence did not vary between the wild boar populations in which the larval load was detectable by artificial digestion (Orgosolo municipality) and those in which the larval load was below the detection limit. Furthermore, the serological prevalence of anti-Trichinella immunoglobulin G in the wild boar populations remained constant during the study period, which covered seven wild boar hunting seasons. As the transmission events (i.e., the serological prevalence) are stable, the high biomass of the parasite in Orgosolo municipality can only have arisen as a consequence of factors independent of its natural cycle, i.e., the presence of a high number of free-ranging pigs, and the concomitant presence of African swine fever, due to illegal pig slaughtering in the field. This epidemiological situation suggests that the natural cycle of T. britovi may be influenced by inappropriate pig husbandry and slaughtering practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ennio Bandino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Nuoro, Italy
| | | | - Diego Brundu
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Nuoro, Italy
| | - Manuela Soddu
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Nuoro, Italy
| | - Alessandra Ludovisi
- European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Federica Loi
- Osservatorio Epidemiologico Veterinario Regionale, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Antonio Pintore
- Laboratorio Fauna Selvatica, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
| | - Edoardo Pozio
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Pavel R, Ursoniu S, Lupu MA, Olariu TR. Trichinellosis in Hospitalized Children and Adults from Western Romania: A 11-Year Retrospective Study. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13040969. [PMID: 37109498 PMCID: PMC10146625 DOI: 10.3390/life13040969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Trichinellosis, a serious and sometimes fatal human disease, is a consequence of consuming raw or improperly cooked meat containing the infective larvae of Trichinella spp. The aim of this observational cohort retrospective study is to compare the epidemiological, laboratory, clinical and therapeutic aspects of trichinellosis in children and adults from Western Romania. We investigated the medical records of patients who were diagnosed with trichinellosis and hospitalized between 17 January 2010 and 31 December 2020. One hundred thirty-three patients were identified according to the electronic databases of infectious disease hospitals, located in four counties from Western Romania. A total of 19 patients (14.28%) were children and 114 patients (85.71%) were adults. In children, the most frequent symptoms were digestive in 78.94%, followed by fever in 57.89%, eyelid or facial edema in 57.89% and myalgia in 52.63% of cases, while adults presented mainly myalgia in 87.71%, followed by fever in 77.19%, digestive symptoms in 68.42% and eyelid or facial edema in 66.66% of cases. The source of infection was pork meat products in the majority of patients (89.47%). Our results revealed a general declining trend in infection rates for both children and adults during the studied period. The vast majority of cases were severe and all required hospitalization. Education of the population along with public health strategies should be improved and maintained to fully prevent trichinellosis in Western Romania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radu Pavel
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Discipline of Epidemiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Sorin Ursoniu
- Discipline of Public Health, Department of Functional Sciences, Center for Translational Research and Systems Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300173 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Maria Alina Lupu
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, 300310 Timisoara, Romania
- Patogen Preventia, 300124 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Tudor Rares Olariu
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Patogen Preventia, 300124 Timisoara, Romania
- Clinical Laboratory, Municipal Clinical Emergency Hospital, 300079 Timisoara, Romania
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Wang Y, Sang X, El-Ashram S, Ding Y, Yu K, Feng Y, Yang N. Establishment of a method for detecting Trichinella spiralis in ovine muscle tissues using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Exp Parasitol 2023; 246:108457. [PMID: 36599388 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Trichinellosis is caused by Trichinella spiralis, a meat-borne zoonotic disease transmitted to humans through the consumption of infected undercooked or raw meat. Surveillance using safe and precise diagnostic tools to diagnose T. spiralis in sheep is needed to assess the incidence and probability of transmission from sheep to humans. In this study, we developed a real-time PCR assay to detect T. spiralis DNA in ovine muscle samples that can be used as an alternative surveillance tool to ensure food safety using newly designed primers. The assay is specific for the Scfld4 gene of Trichinella (T1) and enables the detection of larvae in ovine muscle tissue samples with high sensitivity and specificity. Trichuris ovis, Oesophagostomum dentatum, Haemonchus contortus, and Bunostomum trigonocephalum showed no nonspecific amplification. The assay could detect Trichinella DNA concentrations as low as 0.0026 ng/μL, equivalent to 0.0064 larvae, indicating a high sensitivity for T. spiralis detection. We used this real-time PCR to detect 73 ovine muscle samples from an ovine abattoir, and five samples tested positive via real-time PCR but negative via microscopy. This assay may provide a more specific and sensitive method for rapidly detecting Trichinella larvae in ovine muscle tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Road 120, 110866, Shengyang, China
| | - Xiaoyu Sang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Road 120, 110866, Shengyang, China
| | - Saeed El-Ashram
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, 18 Jiangwan Street, Foshan, 528231, Guangdong Province, China; Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, 33516, Egypt
| | - Yingying Ding
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Road 120, 110866, Shengyang, China
| | - Kejie Yu
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Road 120, 110866, Shengyang, China
| | - Ying Feng
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Road 120, 110866, Shengyang, China
| | - Na Yang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Road 120, 110866, Shengyang, China.
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Stroffolini G, Rossi L, Lupia T, Faraoni S, Paltrinieri G, Lipani F, Calcagno A, Bonora S, Di Perri G, Calleri G. Trichinella britovi outbreak in Piedmont, North-West Italy, 2019-2020: Clinical and epidemiological insights in the one health perspective. Travel Med Infect Dis 2022; 47:102308. [PMID: 35276355 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2022.102308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trichinellosis, a foodborne zoonosis due to nematodes of the genus Trichinella, occurs in the form of outbreaks following meat consumption. North Italy has been rarely involved. We report here the most significant wildlife derived trichinellosis outbreak ever registered in the Piedmont region. METHOD We retrospectively included 96 outpatients referred to our institution (December 20th, 2019-January 15th, 2020) 2020 after consuming raw sausages prepared from a single wild boar hunted in the Susa Valley, 59 km away from Torino, in November 2019. RESULTS We confirmed 35 cases and found additional 10 probable/suspected cases. Our cohort found that 47% of patients were symptomatic, with a median time from symptoms to presentation at clinic and serology testing of 14 days. Peripheral blood eosinophilia >500/μl and CK alterations were common. Further qualitative and quantitative analysis at the International Trichinella Reference Center c/o ISS, Rome identified T. britovi as the causative agent. CONCLUSIONS No autochthonous human case has ever been detected in Torino province, and a single wild boar has tested positive for Trichinella since active surveillance was implemented in 2013. This outbreak should raise attention on the preventive role of veterinary surveillance and the need to optimize sampling procedures and targeted health education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Stroffolini
- Department of Medical Sciences, Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | - Luca Rossi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Faraoni
- Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Filippo Lipani
- Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Andrea Calcagno
- Department of Medical Sciences, Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Stefano Bonora
- Department of Medical Sciences, Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giovanni Di Perri
- Department of Medical Sciences, Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Guido Calleri
- Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
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Benecke J, Benecke C, Ciutan M, Dosius M, Vladescu C, Olsavszky V. Retrospective analysis and time series forecasting with automated machine learning of ascariasis, enterobiasis and cystic echinococcosis in Romania. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009831. [PMID: 34723982 PMCID: PMC8584970 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The epidemiology of neglected tropical diseases (NTD) is persistently underprioritized, despite NTD being widespread among the poorest populations and in the least developed countries on earth. This situation necessitates thorough and efficient public health intervention. Romania is at the brink of becoming a developed country. However, this South-Eastern European country appears to be a region that is susceptible to an underestimated burden of parasitic diseases despite recent public health reforms. Moreover, there is an evident lack of new epidemiologic data on NTD after Romania's accession to the European Union (EU) in 2007. Using the national ICD-10 dataset for hospitalized patients in Romania, we generated time series datasets for 2008-2018. The objective was to gain deep understanding of the epidemiological distribution of three selected and highly endemic parasitic diseases, namely, ascariasis, enterobiasis and cystic echinococcosis (CE), during this period and forecast their courses for the ensuing two years. Through descriptive and inferential analysis, we observed a decline in case numbers for all three NTD. Several distributional particularities at regional level emerged. Furthermore, we performed predictions using a novel automated time series (AutoTS) machine learning tool and could interestingly show a stable course for these parasitic NTD. Such predictions can help public health officials and medical organizations to implement targeted disease prevention and control. To our knowledge, this is the first study involving a retrospective analysis of ascariasis, enterobiasis and CE on a nationwide scale in Romania. It is also the first to use AutoTS technology for parasitic NTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Benecke
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center and Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, and Center of Excellence in Dermatology, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Cornelius Benecke
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marius Ciutan
- National School of Public Health Management and Professional Development, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mihnea Dosius
- National School of Public Health Management and Professional Development, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cristian Vladescu
- National School of Public Health Management and Professional Development, Bucharest, Romania
- University Titu Maiorescu, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Victor Olsavszky
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center and Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, and Center of Excellence in Dermatology, Mannheim, Germany
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Pozio E, Celli M, Ludovisi A, Interisano M, Amati M, Gómez-Morales MA. Animal welfare and zoonosis risk: anti-Trichinella antibodies in breeding pigs farmed under controlled housing conditions. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:417. [PMID: 34419112 PMCID: PMC8379739 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04920-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Domesticated pigs are the main source of Trichinella sp. infections for humans, particularly when reared in backyards or free-ranging. In temperate areas of southern Europe, most pigs are farmed under controlled housing conditions, but sows and sometimes fattening pigs have access to outdoors to improve animal welfare. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether outdoor access of breeding pigs farmed under controlled housing conditions can represent a risk for Trichinella sp. transmission when the farm is located in an agricultural area interspersed with wooded areas and badlands, where Trichinella spp. could be present in wildlife. Methods Serum samples were collected from 63 breeding sows and one boar before and after their access to an open fenced area for 2 months and from 84 pigs that never had outdoor access. Samples were screened for anti-Trichinella antibodies by ELISA, and positive sera were confirmed using Western blot (Wb) excretory/secretory antigens. To detect Trichinella sp. larvae, muscle tissues from serologically positive and negative pigs were tested by artificial digestion. Results Thirteen (20.6%) sows and one boar tested positive with both ELISA and Wb. No larvae were detected in muscle samples of serologically positive and serologically negative pigs. Positive serum samples were then tested by Wb using crude worm extract as antigens. The Wb banding pattern displayed was that characteristic of encapsulated species (Trichinella spiralis or Trichinella britovi). Conclusions The detection of anti-Trichinella antibodies without larvae in the pig muscles, supported by epidemiological data, suggests that pigs may have been exposed to T. britovi. This study stresses the importance of instigating monitoring systems at farm level to prevent Trichinella sp. transmission and to investigate, through a landscape parasitological study, the suitability of a site before the planting of a high containment level pig farm in which the sows can have outside access to improve their welfare during pregnancy. Graphical abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Pozio
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Celli
- Autonomous Veterinary Practitioner, Forlì, Italy
| | - Alessandra Ludovisi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Interisano
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Amati
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Angeles Gómez-Morales
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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Lupu MA, Pavel R, Lazureanu VE, Popovici ED, Olariu TR. Trichinellosis in hospitalized patients from Western Romania: A retrospective study. Exp Ther Med 2021; 22:895. [PMID: 34194571 PMCID: PMC8237275 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Trichinellosis is a public health problem and an economic issue in porcine animal production and food safety. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the current epidemiologic, laboratory, clinical and therapeutic aspects of human trichinellosis in Western Romania. We retrospectively investigated the medical records of patients hospitalized in infectious diseases hospitals from three counties in Western Romania, between January 1st, 2012 and December 31st, 2016. A total of 83 patients diagnosed with trichinellosis were included in the study. Pork meat was the food source of infection in 76 (91.6%) patients and wild boar meat in 4 (4.8%). Patients were aged between 2 and 78 years; 48 (57.8%) were males and 27 (32.5%) came from an urban area. The most frequent symptoms included myalgia in 66 (79.5%) patients, fever in 55 (66.3%), eyelid edema in 40 (48.2%) and asthenia in 35 (42.2%). Two patients died and the others had favorable outcome. Although the number of reported cases has decreased in the past years, trichinellosis remains an important public health problem in Western Romania. Educational programs for both swine breeders and consumers are imperative, and implementation of strict hygienic measures aimed to control infection transmission are strongly recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Alina Lupu
- Department of Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, 'Victor Babeș' University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.,Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, 'Victor Babeș' University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Radu Pavel
- Department of Infectious Diseases-Epidemiology, 'Victor Babeș' University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Voichita Elena Lazureanu
- Department of Infectious Diseases-Infectious Diseases, 'Victor Babeș' University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Emilian Damian Popovici
- Department of Infectious Diseases-Epidemiology, 'Victor Babeș' University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Tudor Rareș Olariu
- Department of Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, 'Victor Babeș' University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.,Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, 'Victor Babeș' University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
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Gómez‐Morales MA, Mazzarello G, Bondi E, Arenare L, Bisso MC, Ludovisi A, Amati M, Viscoli C, Castagnola E, Orefice G, Magnè F, Pezzotti P, Pozio E. Second outbreak of Trichinella pseudospiralis in Europe: clinical patterns, epidemiological investigation and identification of the etiological agent based on the western blot patterns of the patients' serum. Zoonoses Public Health 2021; 68:29-37. [PMID: 33164335 PMCID: PMC7894149 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Trichinellosis is a zoonotic disease due to the ingestion of raw or undercooked meat from animals infected with the larvae of nematodes belonging to the genus Trichinella. In January-February 2015, an outbreak of trichinellosis occurred in Genoa, Northern Italy. The epidemiological link was traced back to a dinner served at an agritourism farm on 31 December 2014, where a majority of the 52 guests had consumed the 'beef' steak tartare. The source of infection was not traced; however, it was noted that the amount of beef purchased officially for providing at the dinner did not correspond with that served, suggesting that meat of a different origin had been added to the beef to prepare the steak tartare. Clinical and laboratory data of 30 individuals out of the 52 (57.7%), of which four were hospitalized, were consistent with that of the case definition of trichinellosis. Western blot patterns of the sera from patients with confirmed trichinellosis were similar to the diagnostic pattern identified for the reference sera of Trichinella pseudospiralis but different from those of the control sera tested for patients infected with Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella britovi. Identification of T. pseudospiralis as the aetiological agent responsible for the outbreak of trichinellosis using an indirect tool represents an advancement in the epidemiological investigation of this zoonotic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Angeles Gómez‐Morales
- European Union Reference Laboratory for ParasitesIstituto Superiore di SanitàRomeItaly
- Department of Infectious DiseasesIstituto Superiore di SanitàRomeItaly
| | - Giovanni Mazzarello
- Clinica Malattie InfettiveUniversity of Genoa (DISSAL)GenoaItaly
- Ospedale Policlinico San MartinoGenoaItaly
| | | | - Laura Arenare
- Public Health ServiceAzienda Sanitaria Locale 3GenoaItaly
| | | | - Alessandra Ludovisi
- European Union Reference Laboratory for ParasitesIstituto Superiore di SanitàRomeItaly
- Department of Infectious DiseasesIstituto Superiore di SanitàRomeItaly
| | - Marco Amati
- European Union Reference Laboratory for ParasitesIstituto Superiore di SanitàRomeItaly
- Department of Infectious DiseasesIstituto Superiore di SanitàRomeItaly
| | - Claudio Viscoli
- Clinica Malattie InfettiveUniversity of Genoa (DISSAL)GenoaItaly
- Ospedale Policlinico San MartinoGenoaItaly
| | - Elio Castagnola
- Pediatric Infectious Disease DivisionIRCCS GasliniGenoaItaly
| | | | - Federica Magnè
- Clinica Malattie InfettiveUniversity of Genoa (DISSAL)GenoaItaly
- Ospedale Policlinico San MartinoGenoaItaly
- Maternal and Childhood DepartmentSan Giacomo HospitalNovi LigureItaly
| | - Patrizio Pezzotti
- Department of Infectious DiseasesIstituto Superiore di SanitàRomeItaly
| | - Edoardo Pozio
- European Union Reference Laboratory for ParasitesIstituto Superiore di SanitàRomeItaly
- Department of Infectious DiseasesIstituto Superiore di SanitàRomeItaly
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