Experimental Trichinella infections in ponies.
Abstract: Light Trichinella infections were established in three ponies given 1000, 5000 and 25000 T. spiralis spiralis infective larvae respectively by stomach tube. A predilection site of infection in all ponies was the tongue. Anti-Trichinella antibodies were detected in all ponies by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a T. spiralis spiralis excretory-secretory antigen. The ponies given 5000 and 25000 infective larvae reacted positively on days 26 and 24 postinfection, respectively, using a criterion of greater than or equal to 5 X mean optical density readings of preinfection sera as positive. The pony given 1000 larvae did not react positively although antibodies were present as indicated by 3 X to 4 X mean optical density readings of preinfection sera. The results of this limited study indicate that the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay cannot be used to certify horsemeat free of Trichinella since the presence of detectable antibody levels appears to be related to the magnitude of the infection and duration of the infection when the animal is tested.
Publication Date: 1987-07-01 PubMed ID: 3651902PubMed Central: PMC1255351
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research study examines the infection of ponies with the parasite Trichinella and the animal’s subsequent antibody response, showing that the amount of antibodies produced may depend on the severity and duration of the infection. The results suggest that the ELISA test may not be reliable for guaranteeing that horse meat is free from Trichinella due to these variable antibody responses.
Background and Experimental Setup
- Trichinella is a parasitic worm that can be transmitted to humans via undercooked meat. The researchers aimed to examine the response of ponies to infection by this parasite, particularly looking at the presence of anti-Trichinella antibodies.
- Three ponies were exposed to varying amounts of T. spiralis spiralis infective larvae via a stomach tube. Infections were established using 1000, 5000 and 25000 infective larvae respectively.
Infection Findings
- Following infection, a preferred site of infection in all ponies was discovered in the tongue.
- Anti-Trichinella antibodies, proteins the immune system employs to combat the parasitic infection, were found in all infected ponies.
ELISA Test Limitations
- To detect the antibodies, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a commonly used laboratory test, was applied using a T. spiralis spiralis excretory-secretory antigen.
- The ponies given 5000 and 25000 larvae reacted positively to the ELISA test on days 26 and 24 post infection. This indicated a significant increase in the optical density readings, revealing the presence of a large number of antibodies.
- In contrast, the pony given 1000 larvae did not react positively. Although antibodies were detected, the optical density readings did not reach the threshold set for a positive reaction.
- These results underscore the limitations of the ELISA test for certifying that horsemeat is free of Trichinella infection. This is due to the potential variability in detectable antibody levels, which seem to depend on both the severity and duration of the infection.
Cite This Article
APA
Smith HJ, Snowdon KE.
(1987).
Experimental Trichinella infections in ponies.
Can J Vet Res, 51(3), 415-416.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Agriculture Canada, Animal Pathology Laboratory, Sackville, New Brunswick.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Muscular Diseases / parasitology
- Muscular Diseases / veterinary
- Trichinellosis / veterinary
References
This article includes 2 references
- Gamble HR, Anderson WR, Graham CE, Murrell KD. Diagnosis of swine trichinosis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using an excretory--secretory antigen.. Vet Parasitol 1983 Nov;13(4):349-61.
- Smith HJ. Evaluation of the ELISA for the serological diagnosis of trichinosis in Canadian swine.. Can J Vet Res 1987 Apr;51(2):194-7.
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Chu KB, Kim SS, Lee SH, Lee DH, Kim AR, Quan FS. Immune Correlates of Resistance to Trichinella spiralis Reinfection in Mice.. Korean J Parasitol 2016 Oct;54(5):637-643.
- Franssen FF, Fonville M, Takumi K, Vallée I, Grasset A, Koedam MA, Wester PW, Boireau P, van der Giessen JW. Antibody response against Trichinella spiralis in experimentally infected rats is dose dependent.. Vet Res 2011 Nov 30;42(1):113.
- Smith HJ. Comparison of pepsin-digestion and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the diagnosis of trichinosis in swine.. Can J Vet Res 1988 Jan;52(1):63-6.
- Smith HJ, Snowdon KE, Finley GG, Laflamme LF. Pathogenesis and serodiagnosis of experimental Trichinella spiralis spiralis and Trichinella spiralis nativa infections in cattle.. Can J Vet Res 1990 Jun;54(3):355-9.
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