Trichinella spiralis-outbreak in the Slovak Republic

Trichinellosis is a zoonosis caused by nematode worms of the genus Trichinella and acquired through the consumption of raw or undercooked meat or meat products that harbour parasite larvae. The present report was designed to evaluate the course and circumstances surrounding the trichinellosis outbreak that occurred due to consumption of pork from a backyard pig in the southwest area of Slovakia in 2001.

Patients suspected of acquiring infection were serologically examined by ELISA, sera of patients with symptoms of clinical trichinellosis were additionally tested by Western Blot. In symptomatic patients haematological and biochemical parameters were assessed on day 45 p.i.

An epidemiological investigation showed that the disease was linked to the consumption of infected pork and/or smoked pork products and affected the household members of four families. Out of 23 persons who had consumed the infected meat, 11 showed anti-Trichinella IgA, IgM and IgG antibodies in their sera by an ELISA against somatic and excretory-secretory antigens. Six of them developed clinical symptoms. Sera from symptomatic patients recognised bands of 64, 47, 45 and 43 kDa of crude T. spiralis antigens by Western blot. Using multiplex PCR analysis, parasite larvae isolated from pork were identified as T. spiralis, rarely occurring in Slovakia.

The outbreak of human trichinellosis in an area where feral animals have been previously considered free of Trichinella was unexpected. Following the suspicion of trichinellosis being addressed, larvae were detected in meat and meat products from pig and the course of disease in patients was successfully controlled and managed.