Meat sources of infection for outbreaks of human trichinellosis

Abstract

Trichinellosis is one of the most important foodborne zoonotic diseases, with worldwide distribution. While human risk for trichinellosis has historically been linked to pork, modern pork production systems and slaughter inspection programs have reduced or eliminated pork as a source for trichinellosis in many countries. While pork may no longer pose a significant risk for trichinellosis, many other animal species may be hosts for Trichinella species nematodes and when human consume meat from these animal species, there may be risk for acquiring trichinellosis. This review article describes the various non-pork meat sources of human trichinellosis outbreaks, where these outbreaks have occurred and some of the factors that contribute to human risk. The literature reviewed here provides evidence of the persistence of Trichinella as a human health risk for people who eat meat from feral and wild carnivores and scavengers, as well as some herbivores that have been shown to harbor Trichinella larvae. It points to the importance of education of hunters and consumers of these meats and meat products.

Parasites in Food: From a Neglected Position to an Emerging Issue

“…Nevertheless, in general, wild boar, horse, and bear are relatively common nonpork meat sources of trichinosis, whereas although infections from consumption of meat from dog, turtle, jackal, cougar, and walrus have occurred, they are more unusual, presumably because these are less usual meat sources (Rostami et al, 2017). An overview comparison of sources of meat types associated with trichinosis cases and outbreaks divided by region or country (Murrell & Pozio, 2011) indicated that of 27 geographic areas listed, domestic pigs were most associated with trichinosis for 11 of them, but for 13 of these regions wild game was the equivalent or predominant source, with all cases associated with wild game in seven of these regions (Ethiopia, Canada, Iran, Lebanon, Greece, Israel, South Korea).…”

Protective immunity in mice vaccinated with a novel elastase-1 significantly decreases Trichinella spiralis fecundity and infection

“…Human T. spiralis infection principally results from ingestion of the encapsulated infective larvae present in raw or uncooked meat and meat products. Domestic pigs are the crucial infection source of human T. spiralis infection in China and other developing countries [2][3][4][5]. From 2004 to 2009, 14 trichinellosis outbreaks owing to infected domestic pork and wild boar meat were reported in the Chinese mainland [6].…”

“…From 2004 to 2009, 14 trichinellosis outbreaks owing to infected domestic pork and wild boar meat were reported in the Chinese mainland [6]. As a considerable quantity of pork is consumed around the world, T. spiralis infection in domestic pigs represents a severe risk to public health and a notable hazard to pork meat safety [5,7]. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a preventive vaccine to block Trichinella infection in domestic swine and transmission from swine to humans [8][9][10].…”

Vaccines againstTrichinella spiralis: Progress, challenges and future prospects

“…Trichinella spp., pathogenic agents of trichinellosis, are foodborne zoonotic nematodes that can infect more than 100 species of mammals, birds and reptiles (Gottstein, Pozio, & Nöckler, ; Pozio, ). Humans can acquire infection with T. spiralis through ingestion of raw or undercooked meat from domestic (pigs, horses) and wild animals (wild pigs, bears) that contaminated with the muscle larvae (ML) of T. Spiralis (Rostami, Gamble, Dupouy‐Camet, Khazan, & Bruschi, ). Trichinellosis poses a worldwide public risk of human and animal health (Cui, Wang, & Xu, ; Pozio, ).…”

“…Pork consumption holds the highest rate out of all terrestrial animals by humans and will continue to grow in future (Pozio, ). Meanwhile, the domestic pork and pork‐related products also act as main sources of human acquired T. spiralis infection (Pozio, ; Rostami et al., ). Despite the trichinellosis burden has been significantly reduced in pigs under industrial farming conditions that are only responsible for more than half of the global pig production, the circulation of Trichinella spp.…”