PCR-RFLP patterns of four isolates of Trichinella for rDNA ITS1 region

The dynamics of Trichinella spiralis epidemiology: Out to pasture?

The great public health success in prevention of human trichinellosis has resulted in a decades-long decline in the incidence and health impact of this zoonosis. The important elements of this achievement include improvement in animal husbandry practices, meat inspection, consumer education, and medical care. Most outbreaks now involve consumption of infected game. However, domestic pork still accounts for many outbreaks, mostly in Eastern Europe and Argentina, where traditional small, "backyard" rearing of pigs for household and local use often involve high risk rearing practices, especially the feeding of food waste. Although commercially produced pork under controlled management now accounts for about half of the world's pork production the demand by consumers, especially in Europe and North America, for free-range pork is increasing. Because of the varying degrees of outdoor exposure in free-range systems, there is concern that such exposure increases the risk of spillover of Trichinella spiralis, (also Trichinella britovi and Trichinella pseudospiralis in Europe) from wild animal reservoirs. This review examines the knowledge gaps hindering the risk assessments needed to provide the producers with guidelines for achieving the food safety assurance demanded by consumers.

The fifth outbreak of trichinosis in Korea

Trichinosis is a food-borne zoonotic disease caused by the nematode, Trichinella spp., and had been reported several times in Korea. Recently, there was an additional outbreak, involving 5 patients, the findings from which are reported herein. On 30 November 2010, 8 persons ate sashimi of the meat of a wild boar. Then, 2-3 weeks later, they complained of myalgia and fever. Unfortunately, muscle biopsy was not performed, but ELISA was performed using their sera. Two people among 8 were positive for Trichinella on the 34th day post-infection (PI), and 3 patients who initially revealed negative ELISA were additionally proved to be positive for trichinosis on the 42nd day PI. Hence, the confirmed patients of trichinosis were 5 in total in the present outbreak. They were treated with albendazole and discharged uneventfully. This was the fifth outbreak of trichinosis in Korea.

Molecular identification of three Trichinella isolates from Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China

DNAs of Trichinella dog isolate (HC), Trichinella swine isolate (HH) and Trichinella cat isolate (SW), obtained from Heilongjiang Province, were amplified by the fragments of 18S rDNA and ITS2. Two reference strains, Trichinella spiralis (ISS3) and Trichinella nativa (ISS10) were used for sequence comparison. Sequence and dendrogram analysis indicated that HC belonged to T. nativa and HH together with SW belonged to T. spiralis. This method permits rapid species identification of Trichinella isolates, although further evaluation is required before precisely identification.