First Serbian external quality assessment to detect Trichinella larvae in meat by the Magnetic Stirrer Method

Abstract

Introduction. Inter-laboratory comparative testing must be conducted under the direction of the National Reference Laboratory for Trichinella in each Member State of the EU with the aim to ensure the quality of the approved digestion method and to evaluate the competence of laboratories in Trichinella detection. For the first time in Serbia, the National Reference Laboratory for Trichinellosis (NRLT INEP) organized such external quality assessment (EQA) for the detection of Trichinella larvae in meat by the Magnetic Stirrer Method (MSM). The aim of this study was to enable laboratories interested to take part in the EQA and to assess the quality of their MSM performance. Materials and Methods. The EQA was organized by NRLT INEP according to ISO/IEC 17043:2010. The EQA test panel, which was sent to eight laboratories within Veterinary Institutes, consisted of three 100±5 g minced pork meat balls with identical numbers of larvae. Two meat balls were spiked with five viable Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae (L1), and one meat ball was not spiked. Results and Conclusions. Evaluation made on the basis of qualitative results showed that 100% of participants successfully completed the testing. Quantitative evaluation showed that, on average, only 60% of Trichinella larvae were detected among all participants. The main importance of this study is that it enabled laboratories across the country to be compared. This should be efficient stimulus for improvement of analytical performance over time. Therefore, it will be of value if the participants and other official laboratories in Serbia take part annually in EQAs organized at national level. The results obtained in this study could provide useful information to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Veterinary Directorate and be of importance for promoting the one health concept in the country as a whole.

Efficacy of an aerosol-resistant pepsin powder used in artificial digestion for the detection of Trichinella larvae in meat

“…These results were much better than those obtained by participants in two PT trials in Serbia in 2017 (Vasilev et al ., 2019) and 2021 (Vasilev et al ., 2021). Our results were similar to recoveries obtained in a validation study of the PrioCHECK Trichinella AAD assay and comparable with those of conventional pepsin powder (Gajadhar et al ., 2018).…”

“…Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae were obtained by artificial digestion of the muscles of an experimentally infected laboratory rat. Details of the preparation of test samples have been previously described (Marucci et al , 2016; Vasilev et al , 2019). Larvae were obtained by very short digestion of T. spiralis infected rat carcasses.…”

Serbian External Quality Assessment for Trichinella Detection in Meat in 2021 Compared to 2017

“…The EQA 2021 test panel consisted of three samples with identical numbers of viable Trichinella larvae for the participants. The procedure for preparation of EQA samples was described by Marucci et al (2016) andVasilev et al (2019). Briefly, the test panel consisted of three meat balls, two of which were spiked with four viable Trichinella spiralis L1 larvae, while one meatball was not spiked (negative control).…”

“…In last ten years, the rate of pig infection significantly decreased from 0.02% to 0.003% (unpublished data) because of improvements in pig production, better control measures and public education. In Serbia, the sources of outbreaks are usually meat from untested infected backyard pigs (Sofronic-Milosavljevic et al, 2013, Vasilev et al, 2019 and, rarely, wild boars (Pavic et al, 2020). Also, testing for Trichinella larvae in meat is regularly performed in laboratories of the Scientific Veterinary Institutes, Veterinary Specialist Institutes, veterinary hospitals, veterinary practices and slaughterhouses.…”

“…In EU member states, the National Reference Laboratories for Trichinella provide PTs to laboratories in order to evaluate the quality, competence and performance of the laboratory tests (Marucci et al, 2009;Riehn et al, 2013;Marucci et al, 2016). The Serbian National Reference Laboratory for Trichinellosis organized successfully in 2017 the first Serbian external quality assessment (EQA) for the detection of Trichinella larvae in meat for accredited laboratories only (Vasilev et al, 2019). Bearing in mind that Serbia is in the process of harmonizing its regulations with the EU, the regulations regarding the EQA should also agree with EU regulations.…”