Trichinella

• Clinical signs of trichinellosis in humans:

  • Enteral phase
  • Parenteral phase
  • Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, fever, muscle pain, splinter hemorrhages, abortions in pregnant women
  • Untreated infection may be fatal
• Role of newborn larva secretions in Nurse cell formation:

  • Downregulation of the Myogenic Program in normal muscle proteins
• Prevention of trichinellosis during meat processing:

  • Freezing does not kill all Trichinella species
  • Nitrites and nitrates have no effect on larvae
  • High salt content in NaCl kills Trichinella larvae
  • High temperature (min 60°C for 1 min), cooking, and hot smoking are effective methods
• Diagnosis of trichinellosis:

  • In pigs: Trichinoscopy, digestion method, ELISA from meat juice
  • In humans: ELISA, biopsy-histopathology
• Treatment and prevention of Trichinella infection:

  • Treatment in humans: corticosteroids, mebendazole, albendazole
  • Prevention methods include meat inspection, proper cooking, and freezing at -10°C for 3 days (effective for T. spiralis)
• Key points to remember about Trichinella:

  • Trichinella life cycle involves one host serving as definitive and intermediate host simultaneously
  • Larvae are found ONLY in striated muscles (with exceptions)
  • Trichinella exhibits broad host specificity
  • Proper cooking is the best preventive measure against freeze-resistant species