New data in France on the trematodeAlaria alata(Goeze, 1792) obtained duringTrichinellainspections

Abstract

The trematode Alaria alata is a cosmopolite parasite found in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), the main definitive host in Europe. In contrast only few data are reported in wild boars (Sus scrofa), a paratenic host. The aim of this paper is to describe the importance and distribution of Alaria alata mesocercariae in wild boars, information is given by findings of these larvae during Trichinella mandatory meat inspection on wild boars’ carcasses aimed for human consumption. More than a hundred cases of mesocercariae positive animals are found every year in the East of France. First investigations on the parasite’s resistance to deep-freezing in meat are presented in this work.

Effect of temperature on the survival of Alaria alata mesocercariae

“…A longer freezing time associated with a lower temperature led to an inactivation of the larvae. Our results are not consistent with the previous report of Vallée et al (2006) and Portier et al (2011) where one DMS was still alive after 5 days of refrigeration at −18±2°C. Hiepe (1985) described that DMS in pork meat survived up to 8 weeks at −20.0°C.…”

“…mesocercariae in game meat. The freezing tolerance of DMS has been documented (Hiepe 1985;Vallée et al 2006;Portier et al 2011) and was investigated in the present study. In this regard, all experiments were performed with spiked meat samples in order to avoid the fast crystallization of Ringer's solution and the related damages on the mesocercariae.…”

“…Microwave DMS (n=90) that have been exposed to microwave heating survived for a maximum period of 90 s. The (Paulsen et al 2013), and France (Portier et al 2011(Portier et al , 2014 are a clear proof that viable DMS can be present in wild boar meat. Cases of human alariosis in the North American region linked to the consumption of insufficiently heated game meat show that the transmission of vital Alaria spp.…”

“…larvae by a method consisting of an artificial digestion of a suitable sample of muscular tissue (European Commission 2005). In the course of this systematic inspection, numerous accidental discoveries of DMS in wild boars were made during the last 10 years in Germany, Croatia, France, Hungary, Ireland, Austria, and the Czech Republic (Jakšic et al 2002;Mileševic et al 2004;Große and Wüste 2006;Portier et al 2011;Murphy et al 2012;Széll et al 2013;Paulsen et al 2012Paulsen et al , 2013. The increasing number of these findings raised the concern about the public health risk posed by this parasite, in particular with regard to the consumption of insufficiently heated game meat, such as quick fries and short-ripened fermented sausages (BfR 2007;González-Fuentes et al 2014a).…”

Epidemiological survey of zoonotic helminths in feral cats in Gran Canaria island (Macaronesian archipelago-Spain)

“…Infection are generally non-pathogenic for cats and dogs (Zajac and Conboy 2006). Although there are not been reported human cases of alariosis in Europe (Rentería-Solís et al 2013), it is evident that a zoonotic risk can be presumed and a potential danger of this parasite has to be taken into consideration (Mohl et al 2009;Portier et al 2011). Therefore, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), in its opinion No.027/2007, 1 July 2007(Anonymous 2007, emphasized the pathogenic potential of this parasite.…”