How can trichinosis be prevented

Adult worms within the small intestine will mate, and the females will give birth to live larvae that will subsequently penetrate the mucous membrane of the small intestine.

Upon penetrating the mucous membrane, larvae can gain access to the bloodstream, the lymphatic system, or both. Once in the bloodstream or lymphatic system, larvae can then travel to most areas of the human body. Larvae indiscriminately infect host cells, and can infect any type of tissue. However, larvae prefer to infect skeletal muscle cells, where they end up encysting themselves, thus allowing the disease to spread when that infected muscle tissue is consumed Despommier Most damage to the body occurs during the invasion of extraintestinal host cells by larvae which may invade and kill brain, kidney, liver, heart, and most other types of cells , or the encysting of larvae in skeletal muscle tissue Despommier Symptoms associated with trichinae in the intestines can begin as early as 1—2 days following infection, and further symptoms associated with larvae colonizing extraintestinal tissue will occur between 2—8 weeks after ingestion of the contaminated food CDC The severity of symptoms is directly related to how many larvae are ingested, with a larger amount producing more symptoms of greater severity.

If very few larvae are ingested, the patient may be completely asymptomatic, or may experience very general flu-like symptoms that may never be properly diagnosed Despommier In more serious infections, the patient may initially experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle pain CDC , possibly followed by secondary diseases, such as neuro-trichinellosis, myocarditis, and dyspnea, if larvae migrate to brain, heart, or other vital tissues Despommier Many antihelminthic drugs are available for use in the treatment of trichinosis, including albendazole and mebendazole WSDOH The efficacy of treatment is dependent upon how soon the infection is caught and how severe the infection is.

Some mild infections are never diagnosed or treated, but resolve themselves after several weeks Despommier Trichinosis is spread to intermediate hosts such as pigs in the same way it is spread to humans: through food. Trichinella worms typically infect less than 0. If a hog is fed uncooked meat contaminated with Trichinella , that hog may become infected, leading to possible infections in humans who consume the meat from that hog. Because of the risks associated with uncooked garbage, all states in the United States are required to cook garbage thoroughly before it is fed to swine McWilliams Swine and other livestock should also be kept from eating the carcasses of dead animals, such as rats, that may have died on the premises and may also carry disease CDC All swine should be adequately and responsibly fed to reduce their tendency to root for food sources that may be unsafe Meyer and Brendemuhl In addition to the proper feeding of hogs and cooking of garbage, certain methods of animal husbandry may be used to prevent trichinosis in livestock.

One method is total isolation, in which domestic animals are raised entirely indoors, leaving little to no opportunity for parasitic infection. However, this method is not economically feasible for most domesticated animals, and it is likely to be considered by some as objectionable from a holistic point of view. Alternatively, the regular rotation or renovation of pastures may serve to limit the amount of exposure of swine to trichinae passed through the feces of other swine Meyer and Brendemuhl Many de-worming chemicals have been shown to safely control internal parasites in swine, as long as the manufacturer's instructions are strictly followed.

However, trichinae are not typically discovered during USDA inspection due to their microscopic size, so no pork sold in the United States should be assumed to be safe from trichinae. The European Union EU tends to be more rigorous in its inspection of pork for trichinae, employing several techniques not typically used in the United States. Tests used by the EU include the following:.

Compression method. The adults then produce larvae that migrate through various tissues, including muscle tissue, shown here. Signs and symptoms of trichinosis infection and their severity vary depending on the number of larvae consumed in the infected meat. Abdominal symptoms can occur one to two days after infection.

Other symptoms usually start two to eight weeks after infection. Mild cases of trichinosis — those with only a small number of parasites in your body — may cause no recognizable signs or symptoms.

Symptoms can develop with moderate or heavy infestation, sometimes progressing as the parasite travels through your body. You swallow trichinella larvae encased in a cyst. Your digestive juices dissolve the cyst, releasing the parasite into your body. The larvae then penetrate the wall of the small intestine, where they mature into adult worms and mate. At this stage, you may experience:. About a week after infection, the adult female worms produce larvae that go through the intestinal wall, enter your bloodstream, and eventually burrow into muscle or other tissue.

This tissue invasion can cause:. If you have a mild case of trichinosis with no symptoms, you might not need medical attention. If you experience gastrointestinal problems or muscle pain and swelling about a week after eating pork or wild-animal meat, talk to your doctor. People get trichinosis when they eat undercooked meat — such as pork, bear, walrus or horse — that is infected with the immature form larvae of the trichinella roundworm.

The new larvae travel via the bloodstream to muscles, where they develop the protective covering and remain in place. This life cycle continues when contaminated meat is eaten by another human or animal.

Abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, fatigue, and fever are often the first symptoms of trichinellosis. Aching joints, muscle pain, together with swelling of the face and eyes, sweating, chills, headaches, cough, itchy skin, and sometimes constipation occur later. The severity of the disease can be mild or very serious and depends on how much of the parasite is eaten in the contaminated food.

Nervous system, heart and breathing problems can occur in cases of severe infection. For mild to moderate infections, most symptoms subside within a few months. Fatigue, weakness, muscle pain and diarrhea can last for months. Symptoms usually develop days after eating the infected meat, with a range of days. To help prevent Trichinella infection in animal populations, do not allow pigs or wild animals to eat uncooked meat, scraps, or carcasses of any animals, including rats, which may be infected with Trichinella.

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