Trichinellosis

Abstract

Trichinellosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by the parasitic nematodes\ud belonging to the Trichinella genus.\ud This chapter describes the different aspects of epidemiology of infection, the life\ud cycle of the parasite and the host immune response to the different species of\ud Trichinella in humans, as well as in rodents which represent the most studied\ud experimental model. The roles of antibodies, T cells, mast cells, eosinophils and\ud neutrophils in immune responses to this nematode are considered in experimental\ud as well as in human infections. Immunopathological aspects of infection are also\ud illustrated.\ud Particular emphasis is given on the clinical diagnosis of trichinellosis which is\ud difficult because of the lack of pathognomonic signs or symptoms. Therefore,\ud anamnestic data are of great importance in diagnosing the infection. High eosinophilia\ud and increased creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity in the serum are the\ud most frequently observed laboratory features, but only the finding of parasites in a\ud muscle biopsy and the detection of specific circulating antibodies can confirm the\ud diagnosis. The medical treatment includes anthelmintics (mebendazole or\ud albendazole) and glucocorticosteroids.\ud A section is devoted to control measures, including a possible vaccine for which\ud several molecules are under investigation

Second outbreak of Trichinella pseudospiralis in Europe: clinical patterns, epidemiological investigation and identification of the etiological agent based on the western blot patterns of the patients' serum

“…According to a review, which included reports of 5,377 global cases of trichinellosis from 1986 to 2009, myalgia (67%), oedema (55%), fever (53%), diarrhoea (27%) and headache (18%) were documented as the main signs and symptoms (Murrell & Pozio, 2011). Macular–papular rash was reported in few (8.3%) patients (Table 2), the characteristics of which was similar to those documented in cases of T. britovi and T. spiralis infections by other authors (Bruschi & Dupouy‐Camet, 2014; Fichi et al., 2015; Messiaen et al, 2016). Ocular lesions as photophobia and conjunctivitis were reported in 13.8% of patients (Table 2).…”

Toxocara polymerase chain reaction on ocular fluids in bilateral granulomatous chorioretinitis

“…DNA is a very sensitive approach it can still be negative in some patients who have very low larval burden, or if the larvae are entrapped or destroyed inside granulomas. 7 …”

Zoonotic nematodes of wild carnivores

“…Trichinellosis outbreaks due to T. britovi and Trichinella murrelli have been identified to be horsemeat-related. Horses can become accidentally infected by grazing in pastures contaminated with infected small animal and rodent carcasses or through hay contaminated with pieces of rodents (Bruschi and Dupouy-Camet, 2014), but also illegal protein sources, including wild animal meet, have been claimed to be source of infections of horses used for meat production (Gottstein et al, 2009).…”