Infectivity, persistence, and antibody response to domestic and sylvatic Trichinella spp. in experimentally infected pigs

Abstract

Groups of pigs were inoculated with genotypes of Trichinella belonging to: Trichinella spiralis, Trichinella nativa, Trichinella britovi, Trichinella pseudospiralis (from Caucasus), T. pseudospiralis (from USA), Trichinella murrelli, Trichinella sp. (from North America), and Trichinella nelsoni. The pigs were sacrificed between 5 and 40 weeks p.i., and the number of muscle larvae per gram (l.p.g.) of tissue was determined as an average of 18 muscles. All Trichinella genotypes were infective for pigs, but both their infectivity and persistence varied: 5 weeks p.i., T. spiralis muscle larvae were present in high numbers (mean=427 l.p.g.), while T. britovi, T. nelsoni, and T. pseudospiralis larvae were present in moderate numbers (means=24–52 l.p.g.); larvae of the remaining genotypes were recovered only in low numbers (means=0.05–5.00 l.p.g.). The total larval burden (live weight of pig×l.p.g.) was constant over time for T. spiralis, T. britovi, and T. nelsoni, but declined significantly ( P<0.05) for the other genotypes. Antibody responses could be detected 3–4 weeks p.i. by seven different Trichinella ES antigens, but the antibody levels and dynamics differed significantly among the experimental groups. In pigs inoculated with T. spiralis, T. britovi, or T. nelsoni, the antibody level increased rapidly between weeks 3 and 5 p.i. and was stable or increased slightly throughout the experimental period. In pigs inoculated with T. nativa, T. murrelli, or Trichinella (T6) (from North America), a rapid increase was detected between weeks 3 and 5 p.i., but for these genotypes a reduction in the antibody levels was seen thereafter. In the pigs inoculated with T. pseudospiralis, the antibody level increased more gradually over a period from week 3 p.i. to weeks 15–20 p.i., and decreased thereafter. In general, all species of Trichinella were detected by any of the seven ES antigens, which points to the potential use of one common antigen for surveillance and epidemiological studies on both domestic and sylvatic Trichinella in pigs. Homologous ES antigens were slightly more sensitive in detecting antibodies to the corresponding Trichinella species.