Infectivity of Trichinella pseudospiralis isolated from carrion

The reproductive capacity index for Trichinella pseudospiralis infective larvae was similar for worms isolated from mouse carcasses on the day upon which mice were killed (day 0: 104.4 +/- 18.6 [mean +/- SD]) and on day 5 following mouse death (106.1 +/- 23.6), but was reduced for worms recovered from carcasses on day 10 postkill (PK: 22.7 +/- 5.7). Larvae isolated from mouse carcasses held at 24 C after day 10 PK were not infective. The percentage of viable worms (tightly coiled or moving) isolated from carrion was similar on days 0 and 5 PK but had declined to 40.4% by day 10 PK and showed a further reduction to 11.8% for worms isolated from carrion on day 15 PK. Viable worms were not recovered from carcasses after day 15 PK.