Search Results (11)

Trichinellosis is an important parasitic zoonosis caused by nematodes of the genus Trichinella, affecting numerous carnivorous and omnivorous mammal species. In Europe, wildlife represents the main reservoir of Trichinella spp., contributing to the maintenance of the sylvatic cycle and acting as a potential source of infection for domestic animals and humans. In Romania, Trichinella spiralis, Trichinella britovi, and Trichinella pseudospiralis have been reported in domestic animals and wildlife, with T. britovi being frequently associated with the sylvatic cycle and wild carnivores. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and molecular characterization of Trichinella larvae isolated from muscle tissues of European badgers (Meles meles) originating from different areas of Romania. Overall, muscle samples collected from 24 European badgers from six Romanian counties were examined using the artificial digestion method. Recovered larvae were subjected to PCR-based species discrimination by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Trichinella larvae were detected in one of the 24 examined European badgers, originating from Arad County, Western Romania. Molecular analysis confirmed the presence of T. britovi, the species most commonly identified in wild carnivores from temperate regions. Although T. britovi has previously been reported in the European badger in Romania in a specimen from Central Romania, the present finding represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first detection of this parasite–host association in Western Romania. The low infection prevalence and the detection of T. britovi in the European badger indicate circulation within the sylvatic cycle and highlight the need for continued wildlife monitoring, given the zoonotic potential of this parasite. Full article

Trichinellosis is a natural-focal helminthic zoonosis that affects the skeletal muscle tissue of carnivorous and omnivorous wild and domestic animals. In Europe, four prevalent species belonging to the genus Trichinella have been identified: T. spiralis, T. britovi, T. nativa and T. pseudospiralis. The aim of this study was to identify the Trichinella species circulating in wild boar populations in Bulgaria, and to evaluate their prevalence. The research covered five hunting seasons, from October 2020 to February 2025. A total of 43,228 wild boar carcasses were examined using artificial digestion, and 597 tested positive, corresponding to a prevalence of 1.5%. The Trichinella isolates were identified at the species level by multiplex PCR at the European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites in Rome, Italy. Among the samples suitable for molecular identification, Trichinella britovi was the only species detected in wild boar in Bulgaria during the study period, although other Trichinella species, including T. spiralis and T. pseudospiralis, have occasionally been reported in this host in earlier investigations. Geographical distribution analysis showed that most infected wild boar originated from southern part of the country. Full article

The prevention of trichinellosis is one of the most important tasks of the public veterinary services. In most EU countries, mandatory testing for parasites of the genus Trichinella includes domestic pigs as well as game species such as wild boar and bears. In Croatia, hunters occasionally also submit badger (Meles meles) meat for Trichinella testing. In addition to the samples from the genus Meles, samples from two other genera within the same family, Martes and Mustela, were analysed. These specimens were most frequently delivered to the laboratory, as roadkill, within a passive surveillance program for the rabies virus. During a 14-year study period, muscle samples from 40 badgers (M. meles), 11 martens (M. foina) and from one polecat (M. putorius) were examined using the artificial digestion method. Trichinella infection was confirmed in four badgers (10%) and one marten (9.1%). Molecular identification by multiplex PCR revealed T. spiralis and T. britovi in two badger specimens, while T. pseudospiralis was identified in a stone marten. Further genetic analysis of the T. pseudospiralis isolate demonstrated its belonging to the Palaearctic population. This study evaluates the epidemiological significance of these findings in relation to trichinellosis, the most important foodborne parasitosis in Croatia, and emphasizes the need for further epidemiological studies in the country targeting both Mustelidae and T. pseudospiralis in the sylvatic cycle of Trichinella. Full article

Trichinella spp. are zoonotic nematodes with a global distribution, primarily maintained through wildlife reservoirs which complicates eradication efforts. In Europe, four species—T. spiralis, T. britovi, T. nativa, and T. pseudospiralis—circulate in wild carnivores and omnivores, with T. britovi and T. spiralis being the most prevalent in wild and domestic hosts. This study aimed to assess the presence and species distribution of Trichinella spp. in wild mammals. This study presents the results of five years of wildlife surveillance carried out within the long-standing monitoring program implemented in the Emilia-Romagna region, northern Italy, which has been in place since 2006. Between 2020 and 2024, a total of 104,338 wild mammals, including red foxes, wolves, and wild boar, were tested using the magnetic stirrer digestion method in accordance with EU regulations. A total of 12 animals (0.011%) were found to be infected with Trichinella larvae. Molecular identification of positive samples, performed at the European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites, showed the presence of T. britovi in 11 animals, while one isolate remained unidentified. T. britovi was detected primarily in wolves and red foxes. No infections were identified in wild boar during the study period. Overall, the low prevalence observed confirms that Trichinella spp. infections in wildlife in Emilia-Romagna are sporadic but persistently present. Only T. britovi was detected, supporting its role as the predominant species in this area. These findings highlight the importance of long-term surveillance for early detection and risk assessment within a One Health framework. Full article

Parasites of the genus Trichinella are widely distributed and infect a wide range of domestic and wild animals. Their presence spans across various continents, impacting agricultural and wildlife ecosystems alike. In Argentina, Trichinella spiralis, Trichinella patagoniensis, and Trichinella pseudospiralis have been detected infecting both domestic and wild animals. The aim of the present study is to detect Trichinella spp. in samples from domestic pigs and wildlife across Argentina between 2019 and 2024 and to identify these parasites at the species level. A total of 216 samples from domestic and wild animals underwent artificial digestion. In cases where a positive result was obtained, muscle larvae were further processed using PCR targeting the ESV region. Samples originating from 16 animals were analyzed. Among the animals tested, 52 were positive for Trichinella spp., including two pumas infected with T. patagoniensis; 43 domestic pigs, with 34 identified as T. spiralis at the species level; and seven wild boars, with five identified as T. spiralis at the species level. The present study enhances our understanding of the distribution and transmission dynamics of Trichinella among domestic and wild animals in Argentina. Full article

Nematodes of the genus Trichinella are important pathogens of humans and animals. This study aimed to enhance the genomic and transcriptomic resources for T. pseudospiralis (non-encapsulated phenotype) and T. spiralis (encapsulated phenotype) and to explore transcriptional profiles. First, we improved the assemblies of the genomes of T. pseudospiralis (code ISS13) and T. spiralis (code ISS534), achieving genome sizes of 56.6 Mb (320 scaffolds, and an N50 of 1.02 Mb) and 63.5 Mb (568 scaffolds, and an N50 value of 0.44 Mb), respectively. Then, for each species, we produced RNA sequence data for three key developmental stages (first-stage muscle larvae [L1s], adults, and newborn larvae [NBLs]; three replicates for each stage), analysed differential transcription between stages, and explored enriched pathways and processes between species. Stage-specific upregulation was linked to cellular processes, metabolism, and host–parasite interactions, and pathway enrichment analysis showed distinctive biological processes and cellular localisations between species. Indeed, the secreted molecules calmodulin, calreticulin, and calsyntenin—with possible roles in modulating host immune responses and facilitating parasite survival—were unique to T. pseudospiralis and not detected in T. spiralis. These insights into the molecular mechanisms of Trichinella–host interactions might offer possible avenues for developing new interventions against trichinellosis. Full article

Trichinella spp. are etiological zoonotic agents that spread throughout the world and affect mammals, birds, and reptiles. Within this genus, Trichinella pseudospiralis is the only recognized non-encapsulated species known to infect mammals and birds. This species has been reported in the majority of European countries, and the real epidemiological scenario of this species remains to be defined because its detection in mammals is much lower than that of the capsulated species. The aim of this study was to examine the presence of Trichinella larvae isolated from the muscles of a jackal from the hunting fund of 36 Murfatlar, Constanta County, Romania. The muscle samples were examined by artificial digestion, and the larvae were identified at the species level by multiplex PCR. The presence of larvae belonging to T. pseudospiralis, a species more frequently reported in carnivorous birds, was observed. This study describes the first identification of T. pseudospiralis in a jackal. The results suggest that there is an urgent need to investigate which species of mammals and/or birds act as reservoirs for this zoonotic nematode in Romania. Full article

The precise mechanisms of action of the host’s gut microbiome at the level of its constituting bacteria are obscure in most cases despite its definitive role. To study the precise role of the gut microbiome on the phenotypes of a host by excluding host factors, we analyzed two different gut microbiomes within the same individual mouse after replacing the gut microbiome with a new one to exclude the host factors. The gut microbiome of conventional C57BL/6 mice was randomly reestablished by feeding fecal samples from obese humans to the mice, and depleting their original gut microbiome with an antibiotic and antifungal treatment. Comparison of body weight changes before and 3 months after the replacement of the gut microbiome showed that the gut microbiome replacement affected the body weight gain in three different ways: positive, medium, and negative. The differences in body weight gain were associated with establishment of a different kind of gut microbiome in each of the mice. In addition, body weight gaining was negatively associated with the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, which is consistent with previous recent findings. Thorough statistical analysis at low taxonomic levels showed that uncultured bacteria NR_074436.1, NR_144750.1, and NR_0421101.1 were positively associated with body weight gain, while Trichinella pseudospiralis and uncultured bacteria NR_024815.1 and NR_144616.1 were negatively associated. This work shows that replacement of the gut microbiome within the same individual provides an excellent opportunity for the purpose of gut microbiome analysis by excluding the host factors. Full article

In this study, we summarize Trichinella findings from four wild, free-ranging host species from Estonia during 2007–2014. Trichinella spp. larvae were detected in 281 (0.9%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8–1.0) of 30,566 wild boars (Sus scrofa), 63 (14.7%, 95% CI 11.6–18.3) of 429 brown bears (Ursus arctos), 59 (65.56%, 95% CI 55.3–74.8) of 90 Eurasian lynxes (Lynx lynx), and three (60.0%, 95% CI 18.2–92.7) of five badgers (Meles meles). All four European Trichinella species were detected: T. britovi in 0.7% of the wild boars, 7.2% of the brown bears, 45.6% of the lynxes, and 40.0% of the badgers; T. nativa in 0.1% of the wild boars, 5.8% of the brown bears, and 20.0% of the lynxes; T. pseudospiralis in 0.02% the wild boars; and T. spiralis in 0.03% of the wild boars and 4.4% of the lynxes. The results include the first description from Estonia of T. britovi in brown bear and badgers, T. pseudospiralis in wild boars, and T. spiralis in wild boars and lynxes. The results indicate high infection pressure in the sylvatic cycles across the years—illustrating continuous risk of spillover to domestic cycles and of transmission to humans. Full article

Free-ranging corvids—678 magpies (Pica pica) and 120 hooded crows (Corvus cornix) from nine protected areas of the Pisa province (central Italy)—were examined for Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella pseudospiralis. The intracardiac blood clots from 651 magpies and 120 hooded crows were serologically examined for T. gondii. The DNA extracted from the hearts of seropositive birds was then used to perform a nested PCR for the amplification of the T. gondii B1 gene and for genotyping for SAG genetic markers. Breast muscle samples from 678 magpies and 91 hooded crows were tested by an artificial digestion method for Trichinella. Data were statistically analyzed. Forty-five (5.8%—41 magpies and four hooded crows) out of the 771 examined animals scored seropositive for T. gondii, with titers ranging from 1:25 to 1:100. T. gondii DNA was detected in 15 of the 45 positive birds and T. gondii genotypes II and III were identified. No positivity for T. pseudospiralis was found. No significant differences between the two species of corvids and among the different areas of origin were observed for seropositivity to T. gondii. This is the first extensive study on both T. gondii and T. pseudospiralis in magpies and hooded crows, as well as the first detection of T. gondii SAG genotypes in magpies. Full article

Although the available proteomic studies have made it possible to identify and characterize Trichinella stage-specific proteins reacting with infected host-specific antibodies, the vast majority of these studies do not provide any information about changes in the global proteomic serum profile of Trichinella-infested individuals. In view of the above, the present study aimed to examine the protein expression profile of serum obtained at 13 and 60 days postinfection (d.p.i.) from three groups of pigs experimentally infected with Trichinella spiralis, Trichinella britovi, and Trichinella pseudospiralis and from uninfected, control pigs by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The comparative proteomic analysis of the T. spiralis group vs. the control group revealed 5 differently expressed spots at both 13 and 60 d.p.i. Experimental infection with T. britovi induced significant expression changes in 3 protein spots at 13 d.p.i. and in 6 protein spots at 60 d.p.i. in comparison with the control group. Paired analyses between the group infected with T. pseudospiralis and the uninfected control group revealed 6 differently changed spots at 13 d.p.i. and 2 differently changed spots at 60 d.p.i. Among these 27 spots, 15 were successfully identified. Depending on the Trichinella species triggering the infection and the time point of serum collection, they were IgM heavy-chain constant region, antithrombin III-precursor, immunoglobulin gamma-chain, clusterin, homeobox protein Mohawk, apolipoprotein E precursor, serum amyloid P-component precursor, Ig lambda chains, complement C3 isoform X1, and apolipoprotein A-I. Our results demonstrate that various Trichinella species and different phases of the invasion produce a distinct, characteristic proteomic pattern in the serum of experimentally infected pigs. Full article