Fatal Human Infection with Mesocercariae of the Trematode Alaria Americana *

Freeman, Reino S.; Stuart, P. F.; Cullen, Jim; Ritchie, A. C.; Mildon, A.; Fernandes, B. J.; Bonin, R.

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.1976.25.803

Cited by 79 publications

(35 citation statements)

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“…Visualization by stereomicroscope demonstrated that these parasites moved actively from the sample material into surrounding liquid and that the isolated DMS were very motile, whereas DMS retrieved in parallel by TIM showed a distinctly decreased vitality, or were dead. This affinity of DMS for liquids was also documented in literature (Bugge 1942;Duncker 1884Duncker , 1896Freeman et al 1976;Pearson 1956).…”

Section: A Alata Mesocercariae Migration Technique (Amt)mentioning

confidence: 72%

A novel detection method for Alaria alata mesocercariae in meat

Riehn

Hamedy

Grosse³

et al. 2010

Parasitol Res

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Distomum musculorum suis (DMS), the mesocercarial stage of the trematode Alaria alata, can cause severe damages within their hosts, and since several reports about cases of human larval alariosis have been published, it became apparent that infected game animals and in particular wild boars are a potential source of infection for both humans and animals. A final statement concerning the health risks for consumers could not be given due to the lack of information about both the prevalence of DMS and the suitability of Trichinella inspection methods to detect this parasite in wild boar meat. Our studies concentrate on (1) the verification of suitability of the official digestion methods for Trichinella spp. for DMS detection in wild boars, (2) development, optimization, and validation of methods, and (3) the distribution of the parasites within their paratenic hosts. A total of 868 individual samples/digests from 48 wild boars were analyzed by the reference method for Trichinella detection in meat samples according to regulation (EC) No. 2075/2005. In addition to the official protocol, a method modification with Pankreatin(c) and bile acid was applied for analysis of adipose tissue samples (n = 89). On the basis of our results, a new detection method based on a larvae migration technique was developed and used for detection of DMS in 574 single samples. Furthermore, the distribution patterns of DMS in wild boars in a total of 1377 single sample migrations/digestions from 35 positive animals were analyzed by application of all three methods. The official digestion method for Trichinella spp. in wild boars meat is inapplicable for the detection of A. alata mesocercariae as it shows shortcomings in both digestion and sampling. A direct comparison between the newly developed A. alata mesocercariae migration technique and the official digestion method for Trichinella spp. based on 574 single samples from 18 animals clearly shows that the sensitivity to detect A. alata developmental stages in tissues of wild boars of the new method is nearly 60% higher compared with the magnetic stirrer method for pooled sample digestion as laid down in regulation (EC) No. 2075/2005. Among other advantages, this method offers a simple, highly applicable, fast, and cost effective way to detect DMS in wild boars which is already applicable in routine veterinary inspection.

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Section: A Alata Mesocercariae Migration Technique (Amt)mentioning

confidence: 72%

A novel detection method for Alaria alata mesocercariae in meat

Riehn

Hamedy

Grosse³

et al. 2010

Parasitol Res

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“…Freeman et al (1976) report on a 24-year-old Canadian male who complained of tightness in the chest and abdominal symptoms after several long hikes across eastern Ontario (Canada). Within 2 days of the initial illness, the patient developed flu-like symptoms like head- aches, fever, faintness, and cough, and on the third day, showing severe dyspnea and hemoptysis, he was admitted to a local hospital.…”

Section: Pathogenicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Biology of Alaria spp. and human exposition risk to Alaria mesocercariae—a review

Grosse²,

et al. 2009

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Recent incidental background findings of Alaria alata mesocercariae ["Distomum muscularis suis," Duncker, 1896] in meat of wild boars during official Trichinella inspection initiated a re-assessment of the potential human health risk as posed by this parasite. The present review of the literature on Alaria biology shows that the human exposition risk should no longer be accepted to be negligible, as it demonstrates a general lack of knowledge in relevant areas of Alaria biology confounding any risk analysis. Sound risk assessment needs future studies which should concentrate on the most pressing questions of (1) the optimization and/or development of methods for reliable Alaria mesocercariae detection, (2) the distribution of the mesocercariae within their paratenic hosts, i.e., identification of potential predilection sites, particularly in wild boars, and (3) their prevalence in sylvatic populations of animals with respect to their introduction into the human food chain. Further, the degree and possibly also the species specificity of Alaria mesocercariae tenacity within the paratenic hosts and respective meat as pertaining to food technological treatments need to be elucidated. While these questions remain unanswered, it is an incontrovertible fact that Alaria mesocercariae have a potentially high human pathogenicity by both occupational and alimentary exposition.

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“…One such group of parasites are the digenean Alaria spp. whose mesocercaria can parasitise all the abdominal organs, lung, eye, somatic muscle and subcutaneous tissue causing severe and sometimes fatal illness in humans (Freeman et al 1976;McDonald et al 1994;Fried and Abruzzi 2010). Affected individuals exhibit signs of pulmonary disease such as bronchospasms, dyspnoea, haemoptysis as well as neuroretinitis and subcutaneous granuloma and death is often a result of anaphylactic shock (Freeman et al 1976, McDonald et al 1994Kramer et al 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The prevalence and distribution of Alaria alata, a potential zoonotic parasite, in foxes in Ireland

Murphy¹,

O’Connell

Berzano³

et al. 2012

Parasitol Res

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The digenean trematode Alaria alata, an intestinal parasite of wild canids is widely distributed in Europe. The recent finding of the mesocercarial life cycle stage in the paratenic wild boar host suggests that it may potentially infect humans Mohl et al. (Parasitol Res 105:1-15, 2009). Over 500 foxes were examined during a wildlife survey for zoonotic diseases in 2009 and 2010. The prevalence of A. alata ranged from 21% to 26% in 2009 and 2010, and the intensity of infection varied, with the majority of foxes having between one and ten trematodes, but a small number of animals had parasitic burdens greater than 500. The location of foxes was geo-referenced and mapped using a geographic information system. The results of the spatial analysis suggest that A. alata may have a limited distribution being confined mainly to areas of pasture especially in the central plain and north Munster. Hot spot analysis indicated a clustering and that the level of parasitism was greatest in foxes from those areas where the prevalence of infection was highest.

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Fatal Human Infection with Mesocercariae of the Trematode Alaria Americana *

Cited by 79 publications

References 0 publications

A novel detection method for Alaria alata mesocercariae in meat

A novel detection method for Alaria alata mesocercariae in meat

Biology of Alaria spp. and human exposition risk to Alaria mesocercariae—a review

The prevalence and distribution of Alaria alata, a potential zoonotic parasite, in foxes in Ireland

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