Identification of the Trichinella species by PCR method

Abstract

Serbia is country with a high prevalence of Trichinella infection in pigs, which continues to be a serious human health problem. In Serbia, only a few isolates of Trichinella found in pork have been genetically specified to date, and all were proven as T. spiralis. New data shows that in the sylvatic cycle in Serbia, at least in the Belgrade district, more than one Trichinella species co-exist (T. spiralis and T. britovi). Increased awareness of the possible overlap among sylvatic and domestic Trichinella cycles indicates the need for continuous monitoring of Trichinella species circulation and strongly points to the need that all isolates of Trichinella found in meat for human consumption should be subject to a determination of the Trichinella species (due to the risk of transmission of infection with T. britovi to domestic pigs and humans). This is why we examined using PCR the Trichinella larvae found in pig meat that caused a human outbreak (Trichinella infection) in Grocka (Belgrade district) during February 2011. The isolated larvae belonged to T. spiralis. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173047]

Keywords

• Trichinella spiralis
• Trichinella britovi
• PCR