Trichinella and trichinellosis in the European Union

Abstract

The domestic pig is the most important source of human Trichinella infection in the European Union (EU) and worldwide. Trichinella epidemiology is commonly defined by two cycles;,domestic' (in pigs onfarm) and,sylvatic' (in wildlife). In industrial indoor farming with good hygienic practices and efficient management including biosecurity (,integrated production'), Trichinella transmission via the domestic cycle is unlikely in the EU situation. In cases of officially recognised Trichinella-free holdings or negligible Trichinella risk regions, testing for this parasite at meat inspection is not mandatory for slaughter pigs originating from integrated production. In other cases, testing of slaughtered pigs for Trichinella is a very important component of the current Trichinella control system. Recently, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published scientific documents proposing generic Trichinella-related pork safety assurance framework, the main elements of which include: Trichinella-risk categorization of incoming pig batches; either testing of carcasses or their Trichinella-inactivation treatments in the case of higher risk batches; and neither testing nor treatments for low risk batches. In conjunction with this framework, EFSA also proposed Trichinella-related harmonized epidemiological indicators (HEI) to be used as the main mechanism for the risk categorisation and monitoring by the risk managers (regulators). On the other hand, in endemic regions where the practice of producing home-made uncooked products from meats of uninspected domestic and/or wild pigs exists, it represents a major risk for human trichinellosis. In such a situation, the farmers, the hunters and the consumers should be educated about trichinellosis-prevention measures applicable in such a setting.