[Wild and domestic animals as permanent Trichinella reservoir in Poland]

[corrected] Since Owen first described Trichinella as a human patogen in 1835, the number of organisms comprising this genus has grown dramatically. This etiological agent of human trichinellosis shows worldwide distribution in domestic and/or sylvatic animals.

The aim of the presented paper was to determine the distribution of Trichinella species in wild animals such as red foxes, wolves, wild boars, and domestic pigs in Poland. Muscle samples from diaphragm and forelegs were collected from animals killed by hunters. Muscle larvae were recovered from the muscle after artificial digestion and identified at the species level by RAPD, PCR-RPLF and multiplex PCR.

Of 75 nematode isolates from red foxes: (Vulpes vulpes), 50 resulted as T. britovi, 6 T. spiralis, 6 were mixed infections of these two species. Fifteen Trichinella isolates remained unidentified. Of 97 nematode isolates from wild boars (Sus scrofa), 21 resulted as T. britovi, 69 T. spiralis, 2 were mixed infections of these two species. Five Trichinella isolates remained unidentified. Of 6 examined wolves (Canis lupus) killed in the Bieszczady region, 3 animals were positive against T. britovi. Of 6 examined raccon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) from Pomorskie region, 2 animals were positive against T. spiralis. Of 21 nematode isolates from domestic pigs, 1 resulted as T. britovi and 21 as T. spiralis. Up to date, two Trichinella species are detected as the etiological agents of epidemiology among domestic and wildlife animal in Poland: T. britovi is the dominant species in red foxes and T. spiralis is the dominant species in wild boars and domestic pigs.