Trichinellosis - a parasitic zoonosis in Estonia
2002
Miller, I. | Jaervis, T. (Estonian Agricultural University, Tartu (Estonia). Faculty of Veterinary Medicine)
Trichinellosis, which is caused by the muscle parasite Trichinella, is a significant threat to human health. In an area like Europe, the high endemic areas in East and the insufficient meat control found there pose a significant risk to trichinellosis in Western Europe. During the last decade, the majority of trichinellosis outbreaks in EU originated from meat imported from Eastern Europe. The expansion of EU with new East Europe partners followed by a liberalisation of the trade with meat and live animals represent a significant threat to the consumers in EU. Muscle samples were taken from the upper part of the right foreleg and examined in the Veterinary and Food Laboratory by the artificial digestion method employing the magnetic stirrer. Trichinella larvae from the samples of 244 infected wild animals were counted, washed, collected, frozen and sent to the department of parasitology of the Estonian Agricultural University. After the data processing all positive samples, marked in accordance with requirements were sent to the Danish Centre of Experimental Parasitology to determine the species of Trichinella. During one and half year 1257 wild animals were examined in Estonia, 244 out of these were Trichinella positive (19.4 per cent). Totally 13 species of animals were examined, trichinellosis was diagnosed in 8 species of animals. The prevalence of infection was highest in wolves (63.2 per cent), raccoon dogs (44.6 per cent), in lynxes (44.0 per cent) and red foxes (38.3 per cent). The high prevalence and the worm burden (0,1 - 235.5 larvae per gram) detected in the racoon dog suggest that this carnivore is one of the most important reservoirs of Trichinella in Estonia. T. nativa and T. britovi were identified in wild animals. Human beings are endangered
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