Epidemiology and Epizootology of Trichinellosis in Romania 1868–2007

Abstract

According to the International Commission on Trichinellosis, Romania accounted for the most cases of trichinellosis reported worldwide in 2004. The following report summarizes the evolution of trichinellosis in Romania over a 140-year period (1868-2007). The sylvatic cycle, such as the consumption of meat from wild boar and bear, has been implicated in human cases. However, 95% of human trichinellosis cases originate from specific cultural food practices involving pork consumption. The first report of human and pig trichinellosis in Romania dates back to 1868. After the political changes of 1989, the annual incidence increased from between 0.1 and 4.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the communist period (1963-1989) to 6.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, with a range of 2-15.9 per 100,000 between 1990 and 2007. Trichinellosis is a major public health issue in Romania that requires that policies be put forth to advance efficient prevention and control strategies.

Epidemiology and history of human parasitic diseases in Romania

“…For example, the effects of trichinellosis and cystic echinococcosis, two of the most common and severe parasitic diseases in Romania, are reflected by worrisome figures. Studies on corpses of patients officially deceased by various conditions detected a rate of infection with Trichinella larvae of 27.1% (Neghina et al 2010g;Olteanu et al 1999). Moreover, a surveillance study indicated that 84.8% of the former patients with trichinellosis required a mean of 53 days of sick leave (Enache 2005;Neghina 2010;Olteanu et al 1999).…”

“…From that year until 1969, a total of 105 foci were detected (Cironeanu and Ispas 2002;Lupascu et al 1970a;Neghina 2010;Neghina et al 2010g).…”

“…In the late communism period (1979)(1980)(1981)(1982)(1983)(1984)(1985)(1986)(1987)(1988)(1989), the mean annual incidence was 1.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and beginning with 1990 up to 2008, it increased to six cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The sources of human infection are pork (95%), wild boar meat, and bear meat (Neghina 2010;Neghina et al 2010g). In 2004, the International Commission on Trichinellosis (ICT) reported that Romania had the highest number of cases worldwide (International Commission on Trichinellosis (ICT 2004).…”

“…More details on the epidemiology of this illness as well as the factors that determined its occurrence and spread in Romania are included in our reviews focused exclusively on this topic (Neghina 2010;Neghina et al 2010g). Other information regarding epidemiological and clinical characteristics of selected patient groups from different counties are provided in our retrospective studies (Neghina et al 2010c;Neghina et al 2011b;Neghina et al 2009a;Neghina et al 2009b;Neghina et al 2010h;Neghina et al 2010i;Neghina et al 2010j).…”

The roots of evil: the amazing history of trichinellosis and Trichinella parasites

“…In Romania, a country found over time to be highly endemic for trichinellosis, the first human case was detected in 1868 (in a cadaver autopsy), and a small epidemic developed in 1874 in Jassy (situated in the region of Moldova) when six members of a Polish-German family consumed tainted pork sausages. Unfortunately, three of them died, causing panic in the population, especially when the larvae were observed under microscopy (Neghina et al 2011(Neghina et al , 2010. Other significant cases/epidemics occurred in Denmark , the Crépy-en-Valois region of France (1878), Spain (1900), and Czechoslovakia (1902-1903 (Blancou 2001).…”