Trichinella spp.

Question 1

Who are the hosts of Trichinella spp.?

Answer 1

Mammals, birds, reptiles

Question 2

Where is the site of infection for adults? Larvae?

Answer 2

Small intestine for adults & muscles for larvae

Question 3

What are the characteristics of adults?

Answer 3

Coiled L1 in striated muscle (adults rarely found)

Question 4

What are the characteristics of eggs?

Answer 4

None seen!

Question 5

What is the lifecycle?

Answer 5

(L1 is infective) L1 in muscle ingested -> develop to adults in small intestine -> females produce prelarval stages -> lymphatic vessels of the gut -> migrate & encyst in muscle (can survive in the tissue even when the animal dies)

Sylvatic & artic life cycle: eating willd animals
Urban life cycle: pigs eating infected pigs; rats and pigs eating each other (secondary life cycle)

Question 6

What are clinical signs?

Answer 6

None seen in pigs & other animals; humans exhibit clinical signs

Question 7

What is diagnosis?

Answer 7

Pooled sample digestion, ELISA, squash prep.

Question 8

Is this zoonotic?

Answer 8

Yes.

Question 9

What are treatment & prevention?

Answer 9

Do not feed pigs uncooked meat

Question 10

What parasitic group does it belong to?

Answer 10

Nematodes

Question 11

What is the order that this belongs to?

Answer 11

Spirurida