A survey of Trichinosis in michigan swine and wildlife

摘要

As food safety issues continue to become a concern for the pork industry so does the concern for a small nematode parasite, Trichinella spiralis. This parasite is the causative agent for Trichinosis in humans. This disease in humans is characterized by nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Fortunately, as the concern about Trichina increases the actual prevalence of the disease in humans is decreasing. Only 13 cases of human trichinosis were reported in 1996. Humans contract trichinosis from eating meat infected with trichinae, either pork or game meat. In the same respect, pigs contract the parasite from eating infected meat. This can be from eating meat in garbage, infected rodents, infected wildlife, or other infected pigs. These modes of transmission could be quite common as pigs readily eat rodents, other pigs and are occasionally fed wildlife carcasses. The objective of this study is to survey the prevalence of trichinosis in commercial swine and carnivorous wildlife in Michigan's lower peninsula. Exploring the prevalence in raccoon and opossums can help determine the extent to which wildlife pose a potential risk to commercial swine.