Trichinosis Caused by Ingestion of Raw Soft-Shelled Turtle Meat in Korea

Reptiles, unlike mammals, have been considered to be unsuitable hosts of Trichinella spp., though larvae have been detected in their muscles and human outbreaks related to their consumption have, in fact, occurred. Herein we report 2 Korean cases of trichinosis, possibly transmitted via consumption of reptile meat. Both patients suffered from myalgia, headache, and facial edema. Laboratory examinations revealed leukocytosis with eosinophilia (54% and 39%, respectively) and elevated creatinine phosphokinase. ELISA was performed under the suspicion of trichinosis, showing positivity at the 29th and 60th day post-infection. Since they had consumed raw soft-shelled turtle meat, turtle was strongly suggested to be an infection source of trichinosis in Korea next to the wild boar and badger.

Seroprevalence of Trichinella in slaughter pigs in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

The aim of the present study was to determine the Trichinella seroprevalence in slaughter pigs in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Serum samples were obtained from 400 pigs at 4 major slaughterhouses and tested for Trichinella antibodies by ELISA using larval excretory-secretory (E/S) antigen. Four were positive and one was equivocal, giving a Trichinella seroprevalence of 1% (95% CI: 0.27 - 2.54). On titration, all positive and equivocal samples had titers greater than 1:80. Upon re-examination the equivocal sample failed to give a positive ELISA result. The pigs were from four major areas of Nepal, Kathmandu Valley, eastern Nepal, Terai and adjoining areas of the valley. Positive results were found from only Kathmandu Valley and adjoining areas. There was no significant difference in the prevalence between areas (p = 0.43). All four positive samples were from indoor managed pigs. The Trichinella seroprevalence determined in this study deserves a direct demonstration of the parasites for proof of the presence of Trichinella in Nepal and to discover the species and infection sources.

Aspectos clinicos, serologicos y parasitologicos de un brote de triquinelosis humana en villa mercedes, san luis, argentina las fases aguda y cronica de la infeccion / Clinical, serological and parasitological aspects of an outbreak of human trichinellosis in Villa Mercedes, San Luis, Argentina: the acute and chronic phases of the infection

Se describen las características clínicas y serológicas de individuos cursando las fases aguda (n: 54) y crónica (n: 32) de triquinelosis, de un brote epidémico ocurrido en una zona endémica de Argentina, originado por el consumo de productos de cerdo de origen comercial. Se evaluaron los datos epidemiológicos, signos y síntomas de la parasitosis y estudios de laboratorio. Se realizaron estudios parasitológicos en pacientes y en chacinados. Los resultados mostraron que: a) la carga parasitaria de los productos de cerdo fue de 200.0±18.3 larvas/g; b) se demostró la presencia de larvas musculares en 10 de 11 pacientes estudiados; c) durante la fase aguda se observó fiebre (94%), eosinofilia (90%), mialgias (85%), cefalea (81%), edema facial (54%), diarrea (52%) y anticuerpos anti-Trichinella (64%); d) el 15% de los pacientes debió ser hospitalizado presentando el 7% de ellos complicaciones; e) durante la fase crónica se observó mialgia (72%), alteraciones visuales (22%), desórdenes gastrointestinales (31%) y la persistencia de anticuerpos (77%). Este estudio evidencia el impacto socioeconómico de la triquinelosis debido a las características clínicas de la fase aguda y a la presencia de síntomas en la fase crónica. .

Detection of Trichinella by various methods in Yugoslavia.

From studies performed on experimentally infected pigs, it was possible to conclude that enzymatic digestion methods are superior to trichinoscopy for inspection of pork for the presence of Trichinella spiralis. The analyses included comparative examination of samples taken from five different parts of diaphragm tissue.