Trichinella in horses: a low frequency infection with high human risk.
Abstract: After the initial report in 1976 of a trichinellosis epidemic caused by the consumption of infected horsemeat, 12 other outbreaks have been described in Europe. Since the first serious human outbreak several experiments have confirmed the susceptibility of horses to Trichinella species and the rapid disappearance of specific antibodies in this host that prevents the use of serological methods for routine screening. A review of the distribution of parasite burdens in muscles of naturally or experimentally infected horses indicates that the tongue is the most likely sample to contain detectable numbers of Trichinella larvae in low level infections. Requirements for testing of horsemeat are specified in legislation of the European Union, and other recommendations are published elsewhere. The EEC directives have evolved into very specific requirements which specify the testing of at least 5g of tongue, masseter or diaphragm per horse using a pooled digestion assay. More recently, France has revised the requirement for sample size to 10g for horsemeat originating from countries with high prevalence of Trichinella. To address the continuing outbreaks of human trichinellosis due to infected horsemeat, the development and implementation of a quality assurance system for testing is being considered.
Publication Date: 2000-12-02 PubMed ID: 11099844DOI: 10.1016/s0304-4017(00)00348-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article discusses a Trichinella infection in horses, a problem that, while infrequent, poses significant risks to human health by causing diseases like trichinellosis. The paper not only confirms that horses are susceptible to Trichinella infection, but also reviews testing requirements, control measures, and emphasizes the urgent need for developing a quality assurance system for testing.
Background and Scope of Problem
- The article starts by mentioning that horsemeat infected with Trichinella has led to 13 trichinellosis outbreaks in Europe since 1976, the year the first definitive report was published.
- Subsequent experiments post the initial outbreak confirmed that horses are indeed susceptible to Trichinella species.
- However, the rapid disappearance of specific antibodies in horses infected by Trichinella makes detecting this infection complex when using serological or blood tests, hence complicating routine screening.
Understanding Parasite Burdens and Testing Requirements
- The analysis of parasite distribution in infected horses, be they natural or experiment-related, suggests that the tongue is the most reliable location for samples. These samples prove more likely to show detectable Trichinella larvae, especially in instances of low level infections.
- The European Union legislation specifies certain requirements for testing horsemeat, with comprehensive directions advising the testing of at least 5g of a horse’s tongue, masseter or diaphragm using a pooled digestion assay.
- French authorities have later revised the sample size requirement to 10g for horsemeat imported from countries with a higher prevalence of Trichinella.
Addressing Trichinellosis Outbreaks
- The research emphasizes that, despite the low incidence of Trichinella in horses, the major human risk factor it carries warrants serious attention.
- To prevent future human trichinellosis outbreaks, the paper concludes by advocating for the development and implementation of a dedicated quality assurance system to standardize the testing of horsemeat, thereby helping detect and control Trichinella infections more effectively.
Cite This Article
APA
Boireau P, Vallée I, Roman T, Perret C, Mingyuan L, Gamble HR, Gajadhar A.
(2000).
Trichinella in horses: a low frequency infection with high human risk.
Vet Parasitol, 93(3-4), 309-320.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-4017(00)00348-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- UMR 956 INRA-AFSSA-ENVA, Biologie Moléculaire et Immunologie Parasitaires et Fongiques, 22, rue Pierre Curie, 94703, Maisons Alfort, France. p.boireau@alfort.afssa.fr
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Food Parasitology
- Horses / parasitology
- Humans
- Meat / parasitology
- Muscles / parasitology
- Risk Factors
- Trichinella
- Trichinellosis / transmission
- Trichinellosis / veterinary
- Zoonoses
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Elghandour MMMY, Maggiolino A, Vázquez-Mendoza P, Alvarado-Ramírez ER, Cedillo-Monroy J, De Palo P, Salem AZM. Moringa oleifera as a Natural Alternative for the Control of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Equines: A Review. Plants (Basel) 2023 May 8;12(9).
- Gabriël S, Dorny P, Saelens G, Dermauw V. Foodborne Parasites and Their Complex Life Cycles Challenging Food Safety in Different Food Chains. Foods 2022 Dec 27;12(1).
- Różycki M, Korpysa-Dzirba W, Bełcik A, Bilska-Zając E, Kochanowski M, Karamon J, Sroka J, Cencek T. Validation of the Magnetic Stirrer Method for the Detection of Trichinella Larvae in Muscle Samples Based on Proficiency Tests Results. Foods 2022 Feb 11;11(4).
- Kamani J, Bártová E, Kašpárková N, Mohammed SJ, Budíková M, Sedlák K. Seroprevalence of Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and Trichinella spp. infections in horses and donkeys from Nigeria, West Africa. Trop Anim Health Prod 2021 May 24;53(3):338.
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- Klun I, Uzelac A, Villena I, Mercier A, Bobić B, Nikolić A, Rajnpreht I, Opsteegh M, Aubert D, Blaga R, van der Giessen J, Djurković-Djaković O. The first isolation and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from horses in Serbia. Parasit Vectors 2017 Apr 4;10(1):167.
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