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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
Magnetic Stirrer Method for the Detection of Trichinella Larvae in Muscle Samples
Published on: March 3, 2017
[Minimum dose of Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae to infect mice]
Jing Cui1, Jie Wang, Zhong-Quan Wang
1Department of Parasitology, Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China. cuij@zzu.edu.cn
Abstract:
Seventy male mice (Kunming strain) were randomly divided into 7 groups (10 mice per group), each mouse was orally inoculated with 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5 or 3 muscle stage larvae of Trichinella spiralis, respectively. All infected mice were sacrificed 6 weeks post-inoculation, number of larvae per gram (LPG) of diaphragm were counted by compression method (trichinelloscopy), the carcass was digested by artificial digestion method and LPG was counted. The larval detection rate by trichinelloscopy and digestion method was 100% (10/10) in all mice infected with 30, 25, 20, 15 or 10 larvae, but 70% (7/10) and 100% in mice infected with 5 larvae, respectively. No larva was found by either method in mice infected with 3 larvae. There is a positive correlation between the larval burden (of diaphragm and muscle) and the infecting dose (r = 0.759, P < 0.05; r = 0.638, P < 0.05), and the minimum infection dose to a mouse is 5 larvae.
Insights
The minimum infection dose of Trichinella spiralis in mice is 5 larvae. Doses of 5 or more larvae showed a positive correlation between infection levels and dose, with detection rates varying by method.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Trichinella spiralis is a foodborne parasite causing trichinellosis in humans and animals.
- Determining the minimum infectious dose is crucial for risk assessment and control strategies.
Purpose:
- To establish the minimum infectious dose of Trichinella spiralis in a mouse model.
- To evaluate the sensitivity of trichinelloscopy and artificial digestion methods for detecting Trichinella spiralis.
Summary:
- Male Kunming mice were inoculated with varying doses (3-30 larvae) of Trichinella spiralis.
- Larval burden in diaphragm and muscle showed a positive correlation with the infecting dose.
- The minimum infection dose was determined to be 5 larvae, with detection rates varying between methods at this dose.
Impact:
- Provides critical data for understanding Trichinella spiralis transmission dynamics.
- Informs public health guidelines and food safety regulations regarding parasite control.
- Highlights the importance of sensitive diagnostic methods for accurate parasite detection.
