58. Describe practical actions and tasks of the official veterinarian linked to the presence of Trichinella parasites. Decision about meat and organs

Question 1

What does regulation 1375/2015 state regarding Trichinella?

Answer 1

Laying down specific rules on official controls for Trichinella in meat.

Question 2

What does regulation 627/2019 state regarding Trichinella?

Answer 2

Carcasses of susceptible species for trichinella should be examined for it and declared unfit for human consumption

Question 3

Which trichinella spp are out of zoonotic importance?

Answer 3

7 zoonotic species (5 more common in EU)

T. spiralis, T. pseudospiralis, T. britovi, T. nativa, T. murelli

Question 4

Which carcasses must be controlled/checked for trichinella?

Controlled holding facility / Non-controlled holding facility

Answer 4

• If from controlled holding facility: all carcasses of breeding sows/boars OR 10%/y from holdings shall be tested.
• All carcasses shall be tested, originating from holdings NOT officially recognized as applying to controlled housing conditions. Carcasses from horses, wild boars, and other farmed susceptible farmed and wild animal species shall be tested as a part of PMI.

Question 5

What are the exception of meat that does not have to be tested for trichinella?

Answer 5

Meat of domestic swine which has undergone freezing treatment

Unweaned domestic swine under 5weeks of age

Controlled housing facilities which continously has been tested and NO trichinella for 3years

= considered free and not need to be tested.

Question 6

Digestive method and samples

Answer 6

Done with magnetic stirrer.

• Swine: 1g from pillar of diaphragm or 2g from rib, sternum, masseter, tongue or abdominal muscle
  ○ Starts with a 100g pooled sample (1g/pig, 100pigs).
  If positive, further examination from pigs:
  ■ 20g form 5pigs, if positive again → 20g from each of the 5 pigs examined separately.
• Horse & wild boar: Horse (10g from tongue or jaw muscle), Boar (10g of foreleg, tongue or diaphragm)
  If positive: 50g for independent examination

Question 7

In case of positive case?

Answer 7

All positive samples are forwarded to national/EU reference laboratory to determine the Trichinella species.
* WOAH should be notified!
* Withdraw official “free” status from the holding.
* Examine all domestic swine at slaughter from that holding.
* Trace and test breeding animals that arrived or left the farm in the 6 months before the positive finding.

Question 8

What does the contigency plan by CA include?

Answer 8

Action for positive Trichinella: Includes traceability, epizootic investigation, and species identification.
Measures at consumer level are taken.

Question 9

Handling of carcass waiting for Trichinella result

Answer 9

● Health mark can be applied only after negative test results
○ Sampled carcasses CANNOT leave SH before the results come back negative
○ Organs or waste that is not intended for human consumption may leave SH before test results are back.

Question 10

Health mark application to carcass w/ or w/o trichinella

Answer 10

● Health mark can be applied only after negative test results

Question 11

What can be done to kill trichinella?

Answer 11

Freezing of meat -15*C for 20-30 days