When was the last case of trichinosis in the USA?
Three outbreaks of domestically acquired trichinellosis have been reported since 1975 (7), the last reported outbreak occurring in 1981; all were associated with bear meat consumption, but the etiologic agents were not identified at the species level.
Over the past 40 years, few cases of trichinellosis have been reported in the United States, and the risk of trichinellosis from commercially raised and properly prepared pork is very low. However, eating undercooked wild game, particularly bear meat, puts one at risk for acquiring this disease.
It is reported to cause about 10,000 infections in humans worldwide each year. It has become a rare disease in the United States because of improvements in commercial animal husbandry involving pigs, the major source of trichinellosis worldwide. About 10 to 20 cases were reported annually in the U.S. in recent years.
In the United States, less stringent measures have greatly reduced trichinellosis in both pigs and people but the disease still occurs occasionally. In recent years, most of the US human cases are from eating game meat (especially bear meat) and not from pigs.
Trichinosis infects humans when they eat raw or undercooked infected meat, including pork and wild-animal meat.
Worldwide, over 10,000 cases of trichinosis are estimated to occur each year, mostly due to eating raw or undercooked pork.
- undercooked pork.
- other undercooked or raw meats, such as beef.
- raw fruits and vegetables.
- raw or undercooked freshwater or marine fish.
- raw or undercooked crustaceans or mollusks.
- raw aquatic plants such as watercress.
- unpasteurized cider and milk.
If you eat raw or undercooked meats, particularly bear, pork, wild feline (such as a cougar), fox, dog, wolf, horse, seal, or walrus, you are at risk for trichinellosis.
Pinworm is the most common worm infection in the United States. Humans are the only species that can transfer this parasite. Household pets like dogs and cats cannot become infected with human pinworms. Pinworm eggs can survive in the indoor environment for 2 to 3 weeks.
Properly handling and cooking meat will prevent trichinellosis. Whole cuts and ground meat from wild game animals should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F.
Where is trichinosis most commonly found?
People can become infected with Trichinosis from eating raw or undercooked meat that contains the roundworm larvae. It is most commonly found in wild game meat (such as bear, wild feline, fox, dog, wolf, horse, seal, and walrus) and less commonly, pork.
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Region/country | Iran |
---|---|
Years | 2007 |
No. cases | 6 |
Average incidence† | 0.008 |
In the United States, CDC estimates that there were more than two million trichomoniasis infections in 2018. However, only about 30% develop any symptoms of trich. Infection is more common in women than in men.
Solco Trichovac is a vaccine of Lactobacillus acidophilus developed for treating trichomoniasis. The efficacy of the vaccine is reportedly due to cross reacting antibody being produced in people immunised with the lactobacillus bacteria.
It varies with one study showing a 5.7% infection rate and other showing 13%. In Texas, however, a study sampling 226 wild boar found 0% infection rate! The most comprehensive study, performed by the USDA, sampled from 32 states found an average wild boar trichinella infection rate of 3%.
Is trichinellosis common in the United States? Trichinellosis used to be more common and was usually caused by ingestion of undercooked pork. However, infection is now relatively rare.
It varies with one study showing a 5.7% infection rate and other showing 13%. In Texas, however, a study sampling 226 wild boar found 0% infection rate! The most comprehensive study, performed by the USDA, sampled from 32 states found an average wild boar trichinella infection rate of 3%.
References
- https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/TrichinosisFactSheet.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3311199/
- https://www.fukushihoken.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/shokuhin/eng/faq/category06/55.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/trichinellosis/hunters.html
- https://www.healio.com/news/infectious-disease/20200713/trichinellosis-a-rare-parasitic-infection
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3290091/
- https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/pinworm/epi.html
- https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/trichinosis/fact_sheet.htm
- https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/trichinosis/trichinosis.html
- https://www.foodsafety.ca/blog/common-food-sources-parasites
- https://brokenarrowranch.com/blogs/wild-and-pure/trichinosis-how-common-is-the-disease
- https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/trichinellosis/epi.html
- https://porkgateway.org/resource/trichinosis/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6056131/
- https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/trichinellosis/gen_info/faqs.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/stdfact-trichomoniasis.htm
- https://www.babycentre.co.uk/x536443/is-it-safe-to-eat-rare-or-raw-meat-during-pregnancy
- https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/one-less-thing-to-worry-about-undercooked-pork/
- https://vetmed.iastate.edu/vdpam/FSVD/swine/index-diseases/trichinellosis
- https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/trichinellosis/prevent.html
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/trichinosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20378583
- https://incubator.rockefeller.edu/pork-chops-and-applesauceand-worms/