An example of one health approach: a timeline of the history of trichinellosis control

Abstract

Trichinellosis is the first zoonosis for which a detection at the slaughterhouse is mandatory. The delay between the description of the parasite in 1835 (Owen and Paget), first finding in pork in 1846 (Leidy), deciphering of the cycle in 1858 (Virchow), its demonstration as a pathogenic agent in 1860 (Zenker), and the implementation of a control in pork in the duchy of Brunswick (Germany) in 1863 was rather short. This control led to a dramatic decrease in lethal cases in Germany. Around 1880, most European countries claimed that massive importations of pork from the USA could be sources of trichinellosis. Therefore, the USA was obliged to check on an industrial scale that all exported pork was Trichinella free. In the 20th century, several institutions played a crucial role in the control of trichinellosis: the USDA in Beltsville (deep-freezing killing of larvae, controls in farms, digestion techniques and antigenic preparations), the RIVM in Bilthoven (ELISA), the ISS in Rome (clarification of the different species of Trichinella. The ANSES (Maisons-Alfort, France) performed horse experimental infections and, with the CFIA (Saskatoon, Canada) developed quality control assurance, proficiency samples, and technician training". The International Commission on Trichinellosis (ITC) (created in 1960) was a key tool to develop collaborations and issue recommendations on control and Trichinella-free farming.