Evaluation of the risk of transmission of Trichinella in pork production

RIBICICH,M.; GAMBLE, H. R.; BOLPE, J.; SOMMERFELT, I.; CARDILLO, N.; SCIALFFA, E.; GIMENEZ, R.; PASQUALETTI, M.; PASCUAL, G.; FRANCO, A.; ROSA, A.

VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2009 vol. 159 p. 350 - 353

0304-4017

Recently, there has been interest in programs that certify pork production practices thatminimize the risk of exposure of pigs to Trichinella spiralis. Certification might be usefulfor reducing the risk of human trichinellosis from pork in Argentina, but moreinformation is needed on pig production practices and sources of Trichinella infection inArgentinian pigs. In this study, 21 pig farms were assessed for Trichinella infectionincluding some farms using total and partial confinement management, and others withpigs raised exclusively outdoors. A total of 3224 muscle sampleswere collected frompigsraised on these farmsand tested to determine the presence of T. spiralis larvae by artificialdigestion. Serumsamples from the same 3224 pigswere tested for antibodies to T. spiralisby ELISA. For each farm, a questionnairewas completed summarizing information aboutmanagement factors and this information was used to assess risk factors for exposure ofT. spiralis. Based on the results, pigs raised outdoors weremore likely to be infected thanpigs raised in total or partial confinement (p 0.05). Pigs fed waste products containingmeat were 12.5 times more likely to be infected than pigs not fed waste containingmeat(p < 0.01). The role played by rats in transmission of Trichinella is unclear; however, onfarms with evidence of wild animals and access of pigs to wildlife carcasses, theprevalence of Trichinella infection was significantly higher. All pigs raised under goodhygienic and sanitary conditions were negative for Trichinella infection by both artificialdigestion and ELISA.