Disease: Trichinellosis

This page provides general information about this condition. Text can be revealed by clicking on the green headers. Links to press releases, results from DWHC investigations as well as other useful documents and relevant literature available on the DWHC website can be found at the bottom of the page.

Pathogen

Trichinella is a round worm that can infect people through consumption of insufficiently cooked meat. The most well-known sort is Trichinella spiralis.

Susceptible species

The worm is found in rodents and in animals such as wild boar, foxes, badgers and raccoons that prey on them. Horses can also be infected by Trichinella and this is thought to occur through consumption of hay or other forage containing mouse cadavers.

Signs in animals

Infection in animals very rarely causes disease.

Symptoms in people

Trichinella infection can cause serious disease in humans with a range of symptoms including gastrointestinal disturbance, muscle and joint aches and fever.

Infection of people

Humans, like other animals, can become infected by eating raw or under-cooked meats (particularly pork and horse meat) that contain Trichinella cysts.

Preventative measures

All domestic and wild animals that are susceptible to Trichinella infection that enter the food chain are routinely tested for evidence of infection. In the Netherlands this includes domestic horses and pigs and wild boar. Contaminated meat identified in this way is destroyed.

External information

Research results

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Projects

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General news

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Publications

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