An outbreak of trichinellosis by consumption of raw soft-shelled turtle meat in Korea

Blood recovery of wild Mekong snail-eating turtles (Malayemys subtrijuga Schlegel and Müller, 1845) in captivity from leech infestation

Blood cell counts are valuable diagnostic tools for assessing the health status of chelonians, however, reference standards for healthy blood parameters in various turtle species are lacking. In this study, forty wild female Malayemys subtrijuga were captured from ponds in Kasetsart University, and transported to laboratory for recuperating in captivity. All turtles were infected with a single leech species, Placobdelloides siamensis, with a mean of 513.7 ± 164.9 individuals per turtle, and exhibited penetrating and lesion wounds from leech infestations on both their skin and shell. Subsequently, they were cleaned and treated to eliminate ecto- and endoparasites before the recuperation period began. The turtles did not exhibit significantly differences in weight, carapace length (CL), red blood cell count (RCC), and white blood cell count (WCC) with a mean of 654.2 ± 199.9 g, 15.0 ± 2.5 cm, 327,080 ± 70,156 cells/mm3, and 73,340 ± 15,859 cells/mm3, respectively, during the initial records (week 0). However, after being maintained for 17 weeks, their health significantly improved in term of their blood parameters (RCC and WCC) and weight, except CL which remained unchanged, with a mean of 491,470 ± 16,169 cells/mm3, 18,790 ± 1496 cells/mm3, and 738.9 ± 191.5 g, respectively. Therefore, the health status obtained in this study can be used as a reference for blood parameters, weight, and recuperation period for the treatment of ill wild M. subtrijuga in captivity or as part of conservation management programs for turtles.

Human Outbreak of Trichinellosis Caused by Trichinella papuae Nematodes, Central Kampong Thom Province, Cambodia

In September 2017, a severe trichinellosis outbreak occurred in Cambodia after persons consumed raw wild pig meat; 33 persons were infected and 8 died. We collected and analyzed the medical records for 25 patients. Clinical signs and symptoms included myalgia, facial or peripheral edema, asthenia, and fever. We observed increased levels of creatine phosphokinase and aspartate aminotransferase-, as well as eosinophilia. Histopathologic examination of muscle biopsy specimens showed nonencapsulated Trichinella larvae. A Trichinella excretory/secretory antigen ELISA identified Trichinella IgM and IgG. Biopsy samples were digested and larvae were isolated and counted. PCR for the 5S rDNA intergenic spacer region and a multiplex PCR, followed by sequencing identified the parasite as Trichinella papuae. This species was identified in Papua New Guinea during 1999 and in several outbreaks in humans in Thailand. Thus, we identified T. papuae nematodes in humans in Cambodia.

No evidence of Trichinella spp. in domestic pig carcasses at a selected abattoir in southern Botswana

Trichinellosis is a worldwide zoonosis with genotypes affecting different domestic and wild animals and is widely distributed throughout the world. Species and genotypes of this genus affecting different animals have been identified. Despite its occurrence in Sub-Saharan countries, the presence of trichinellosis in Botswana is yet to be confirmed. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Trichinella infection in domestic pigs slaughtered at an abattoir in Gaborone, Botswana. Of the 111 pig carcasses selected, 5 g of crus of the diaphragm was collected from each carcass, trimmed of all fat and fascia and then cut into 1- to 2-g samples. The muscle samples were pooled into 100-g muscle sample and then processed by the OIE prescribed digestion method. A stereomicroscope was used to examine each grid of the Petri dish for the presence of Trichinella larvae. No Trichinella larvae were found in any digested muscle samples. Future studies should target a wider pig population and other host animals.