Trichinella infection in Serbia from 2011 to 2020: a success story in the field of One Health

Abstract

In Serbia, modern pork production systems with implemented control measures, including the detection of Trichinella larvae in meat (ISO18743), have eliminated farmed pork from pigs slaughtered at abattoirs as a source of trichinellosis. Epidemiological data from 2011 to 2020 indicate that the number of human cases and the number of infected domestic pigs has decreased significantly. Over the years, pork was the most frequent source of human infection. Cases generally occurred in small family outbreaks, and the infection was linked to consumption of raw or undercooked pork from backyard pigs. In most of the outbreaks, T. spiralis was the aetiological agent of infection, but in 2016, a large outbreak was caused by consumption of uninspected wild boar meat containing T. britovi larvae. To achieve safe pork, it is important that consumers of pork from animals raised in backyard smallholdings and of wild game meat are properly educated about the risks associated with consumption of untested meat. Laboratories conducting Trichinella testing should have a functional quality assurance system to ensure competency of analysts and that accurate and repeatable results are achieved. Regular participation in proficiency testing is needed.

First Identification and Molecular Characterization of Trichinella britovi (Nematoda: Trichinellidae) from the Pine Marten (Martes martes Linnaeus, 1758) in Romania

“…In European countries, cases of human trichinellosis as a result of infection with T. britovi through the consumption of Sus scrofa meat have been reported in Serbia [ 66 , 67 , 68 ], Portugal [ 69 ], Italy [ 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 ], Spain and Sweden [ 75 , 76 ], Greece [ 77 ], Iran and Turkey [ 78 ], France [ 79 , 80 , 81 ], and Slovakia [ 82 , 83 ]. Moreover, human infection with T. britovi through the consumption of other wild and domestic animals’ meat has been reported, including jackal meat [ 84 ], horse meat [ 73 ], domestic dog meat [ 85 ], and domestic pig meat in Spain [ 86 , 87 ], Argentina [ 88 ], Bulgaria [ 89 ], Sardinia [ 90 ], Corsica [ 91 ], and Slovakia [ 85 ].…”

Trichinosis in Serbia in the period from 2001 to 2022

“…In certain districts, the number of registered cases is consistently high compared to districts with only individual cases registered during the entire observed period or without any registered cases, as in the Pirot District. In addition, in certain districts, trichinosis epidemics are registered more often, so, during the period from 2011 to 2020, in three districts in Serbia, epidemics were reported for 5-6 years, in 13 districts, epidemics had occurred for 1-3 years, while eight districts had no registered epidemics [12]. The above is consistent with the findings that there are still regions in the country that are endemic for this zoonosis, although considerable effort has been made to reduce the transmission of the infection and even to eliminate this parasite from the food chain [12,13].…”

“…У појединим окрузима број регистрованих случајева је константно висок у односу на округе у којима су регистровани искључиво појединачни случајеви током целог посматраног периода или уопште нису регистровани, као у Пиротском округу. Такође, у појединим окрузима епидемије трихинелозе се региструју чешће, па су тако, током периода од 2011. до 2020. године, у три округа у Србији епидемије пријављиване током 5-6 година, у 13 округа епидемије су се јављале током 1-3 године, док у осам округа није било регистрованих епидемија [12]. Наведено је у складу са налазима да и даље постоје региони у земљи који су ендемични за ову зоонозу, иако је учињен значајан напор да се смањи преношење инфекције, па чак и да се елиминише паразит из ланца исхране [12,13].…”

Galactomannan inhibits Trichinella spiralis invasion of intestinal epithelium cells and enhances antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity related killing of larvae by driving macrophage polarization

“…Humans acquire Trichinella infection by consuming raw or undercooked animal meat containing Trichinella infective larvae [43,76]. Many outbreaks of human trichinellosis have been reported in certain countries [13,57]; trichinellosis is still a major food-borne zoonosis with economic, social and public health impacts. Thus, new effective strategies are needed to prevent and control this important zoonotic disease.…”