The Importance of Objective Clinical Examination in Patients with Trichinellosis, Registered in Braşov County, Between 1983 and 2013

In human trichinellosis, it is important to know the peculiarities of objective manifestations in order to associate the antiparasitic therapy to support the systems and organs affected by this disease. We considered 1112 cases of human trichinellosis recorded between 1983 and 2013 in Braşov County. Objective clinical examinations show that cardiovascular manifestations were most frequent (12.32%). Patients showed these characteristics in the following order: angina, palpitations, and shortness of breath. Digestive disorders were found in 11.27% of the patients. Nine percent of the patients presented respiratory clinical signs. Correlating the objective physical findings with the recorded forms of disease we observe that cardiovascular manifestations prevail in all moderate, moderately severe, severe even in the mild form of the disease. These are followed by digestive and respiratory manifestations that are recorded at high parameters in moderate, moderately severe and severe forms of the disease.

Trichinella spp. in wild mesocarnivores in an endemic setting

Human trichinellosis and Trichinella infection in pigs are both still endemic in the Balkans, including Serbia. Because of the flow between the sylvatic and the domestic cycle of Trichinella spp., monitoring wildlife has been recommended for the risk assessment of Trichinella spp. infection in swine. We have previously shown the presence of Trichinella infection in wild carnivores including the wolf and the golden jackal, and here we report on Trichinella infection in several other mesocarnivore species. From a total of 469 animals collected between 1994 and 2013, Trichinella larvae were detected in 29 (6.2%, 95% CI = 4.0–8.4) animals, including 14 red foxes (4.7%), 7 wild cats (35%), 5 beech martens (4.8%), 2 pine martens (16.7%), and 1 European badger (6.25%). No Trichinella larvae were detected in the examined specimens of European polecats, steppe polecats and European otters. Species identification of the Trichinella larvae performed for 18 positive samples revealed T. spiralis in 77.8% and T. britovi in 22.2% of the isolates. Both species were detected in red foxes and wild cats. The predominance of T. spiralis in wildlife in Serbia indicates the (past or present) spillover of this pathogen from domestic to wild animals.

Possible case of trichinellosis associated with beaver (Castor fiber) meat

Although there have been occasional reports of rare and low-level trichinellae infestation in beavers, no human cases of beaver-associated trichinellosis have been described. This report presents a possible case of human trichinellosis linked to beaver meat. Increasing consumption of beaver meat necessitates raising awareness of this potential source of trichinellosis.