Trichinella spp. in ostrich meat: a public health risk?

In the present work the biological behaviour of T. spiralis and T. pseudospiralis in ostriches is reported. Oral infections were performed in eight ostriches with two infective doses (10,000 and 80,000 larvae) for each species of Trichinella. On day 0, 30 and 60 p.i. blood samples were collected to assay the serum changes concerning specific muscle enzyme activities and total proteins. The immunological study, to determine specific IgG in sera, was conducted employing a monoclonal blocking ELISA. From the carcasses of sacrificed animals, samples of various muscle tissues were examined by the digestion method and by standard histopathologic procedures. The study showed a low susceptibility of the ostriches to T. pseudospiralis; preferential sites of larval distribution were muscle tissues of the legs. T. spiralis could be found in muscle tissues only when a high number of larvae were inoculated. Immunological reactivity was found only in animals infected with higher doses of T. pseudospiralis

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in wild boars (Sus scrofa) from Central Italy

Wild and farmed game meat consumption has been highlighted as an emerging risk factor for Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans. In Central Italy wild boar is widely distributed and is also one of the most popular game species. The main goal of the present study was to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies through a serological survey conducted on 400 hunted wild boars (250 males and 150 females) during three subsequent hunting seasons (2009a-2011), using an Immunofluorescence Antibody Assay. The animals were sorted by age, determined on the evaluation of the dental table; 101 were \uc2 3\uc2 years. Antibodies against T. gondii were detected in 56 (14%) serum samples with titers ranging from 40 to \ue2\u20301160; a significant association (\uc2 <\uc2 0.05) was found between seropositivity and age, but not gender, hunting districts, or year of sampling

Experimental trichinellosis in fallow-deer (Dama dama L.).

Herbivora can play a very important role in spreading trichinellosis, as showed by the massive epidemics in man, caused by the consumption of horse meat in the last years. In this context, the present study has been undertaken to verify, through an experimental infection, the susceptibility, together with other biological parameters, of fallow-deer to Trichinella infection. The four animals, 8-9 months of age and 18-25 Kg body weight, were orally infected with low doses of Trichinella britovi and T. pseudospiralis (2,000 larvae/animal). After day 30 p.i., the animals were necropsied and, using artificial digestion methods, larval burden of Trichinella in muscle tissues was determined. Histopathological, serological (IgG monoclonal blocking ELISA) and biochemical data were assessed during the experiment. The results showed the susceptibility of fallow-deer to T. britovi and T. pseudospiralis infection; under the same inoculum size, the number of larvae/g was higher in group infected with T. britovi. The animals showed a higher immunological response to T. pseudospiralis infection. The results are discussed

Dog filariosis in the Lazio region (Central Italy): first report on the presence of Dirofilaria repens

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological investigations were carried out in the Lazio Region to assess the status of canine filariosis and to evaluate the actual risk for veterinary and medical public health. METHODS: Since August 2001 to June 2003, a total of 972 canine blood samples, collected in public kennels and from private owners animals of the 5 Provinces of the Region, were tested. The presence of filarial parasites was evaluated by microscopy and bio-molecular techniques; the species identification was performed by means of the same diagnostic tools. RESULTS: A total of 17/972 (1.75%; 95%CI 1.06%–2.85%) blood samples were parasitized by D. repens,13 out them drawn by dogs resident in the Province of Roma, and 4 in the other provinces. Multivariate analysis was performed in order to evaluate the association between filariosis and risk factors. The origin from coastal territories seems to be a significant risk factor to acquire the infection. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of canine filariosis in the Lazio Region, where D. repens was before reported only in foxes. The risk of human zoonotic infection is stressed, and the absence of other filarial species is discusse

The use of a synthetic antigen for the serological diagnosis of human trichinellosis

Hosts infected with Trichinella produce antibodies specific for an epitope common to the TSL-1 family antigens. This epitope contained uncommon terminal 3, 6-dideoxy-D-arabinohexose (so called tyvelose) residues. The disaccharide moiety was synthesized and an immunodiagnostic assay was developed, which was specific and sensitive in swine trichinellosis. We aimed to verify the specificity and sensitivity of this immunodiagnostic test in human trichinellosis. 15 sera from normal subjects, 12 from patients with other parasitic diseases and 50 from trichinellosis patients were tested. Indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for specific IgG and an amplified ELISA for specific IgE were performed using β-tyvelose-GalNAc-bovine serum albumin (BSA) disaccharide conjugate or T. spiralis muscle larvae excretory/secretory (E/S) products, as antigens. Neither control sera nor other parasitic infection sera resulted positive both for IgG and IgE when synthetic or E/S antigens were used. In trichinellosis patient sera, specific IgG were present in 100 % of cases, irrespective of the antigen used, but whereas specific IgE were detected in 78 % using E/S antigens, a 100% positivity rate was obtained, using the β-tyvelose- BSA conjugate

The use of a synthetic antigen for the serological diagnosis of human trichinellosis

Hosts infected with Trichinella produce antibodies specific for an epitope common to the TSL-1 family antigens. This epitope contained uncommon terminal 3, 6-dideoxy-D-arabinohexose (so called tyvelose) residues. The disaccharide moiety was synthesized and an immunodiagnostic assay was developed, which was specific and sensitive in swine trichinellosis. We aimed to verify the specificity and sensitivity of this immunodiagnostic test in human trichinellosis. 15 sera from normal subjects, 12 from patients with other parasitic diseases and 50 from trichinellosis patients were tested. Indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for specific IgG and an amplified ELISA for specific IgE were performed using β-tyvelose-GalNAc-bovine serum albumin (BSA) disaccharide conjugate or T. spiralis muscle larvae excretory/secretory (E/S) products, as antigens. Neither control sera nor other parasitic infection sera resulted positive both for IgG and IgE when synthetic or E/S antigens were used. In trichinellosis patient sera, specific IgG were present in 100 % of cases, irrespective of the antigen used, but whereas specific IgE were detected in 78 % using E/S antigens, a 100% positivity rate was obtained, using the β-tyvelose- BSA conjugate

PRELIMINARY EVALUATION ON THE PREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN PIG REARED AND SALUGHTERED IN UMBRIA REGION

Toxoplasmosis is a common disease of warm-blooded animals including man that can be trasmitted by meat containing tissue cysts. Recent findings lead to the conclusion that human toxoplasmosis has health sequelae also in the general public, in addition to congenital infections or immunosuppressive conditions. A risk based approach is therefore necessary to reduce the possibility of Toxoplasma gondii cysts in food. Due to the difficulty of revealing the infection in meats at slaughterhouse level, a reduction of the infection in the pre-harvest phase can be recommended. Few data are available on the real prevalence of the infection in Italian pig herds. A preliminary investigation on the seroprevalence in pigs reared and slaughtered in Umbria is reported. Blood samples of 288 animals were collected in three different slughterhouses and were representative of about 17% of the pigs reared in the Umbria Region. A seroprevalence of 14.58% was detected