Detection of Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae in naturally infected horses

J Parasitol. 1995 Oct;81(5):781-3.

Abstract

Human trichinellosis outbreaks related to horsemeat consumption have been reported in France and Italy in recent years. In order to determine if Trichinella is present in horses slaughtered at an abattoir in the State of Mexico, diaphragm muscle tissue samples (22-37 g) from 80 horses were examined by artificial digestion. Four of these samples had larvae that were characterized as Trichinella sp. by morphological criteria and as Trichinella spiralis by the polymerase chain reaction.

MeSH terms

  • Abattoirs
  • Animals
  • DNA, Helminth / analysis
  • DNA, Helminth / genetics
  • Diaphragm / parasitology*
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology*
  • Horses / parasitology*
  • Larva
  • Mexico
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Trichinella spiralis / genetics
  • Trichinella spiralis / isolation & purification*
  • Trichinellosis / parasitology
  • Trichinellosis / veterinary*

Substances

  • DNA, Helminth