TRICHINELLOSIS STILL CONCERNS EUROPE

Abstract

Trichinellosis is a concern for public health aut horities in Europe and efforts have been made to promote and fund European networks Key scientists in this field have been identified and meet or communicate regularly to improve the management and prevention of this potentially lethal disease. Key preventive measures include training the technician s in charge of meat control and educating the consu mers to cook potentially infected meat thoroughly. Trichinellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the ingestion of raw meat containing larvae of the nematode Trichinella . Four species of Trichinella are found in Europe : Trichinella spiralis (cosmopolitan), T. britovi (in wildlife from mountainous areas), T. nativa (in wildlife from colder and northern regions) and T. pseudospiralis (a cosmopolitan nonencapsulating species). Human trichinellosis causes high fever, facial oedema, myositis and eosinophilia. It can be a seri ous disease, particularly in elderly patients in wh om neurological or cardiovascular complications can le ad to death.