Trichinosis

There are a multitude of parasites in the world. Trichinella is a common form of a

parasite to infect the human body. Trichinosis or trichinelloisis is caused by consuming raw or
undercooked animal meat. More specifically animals such as pork, bear, wild feline, fox, dog,
wolf, horse, seal, or walrus. The most common way to contract trichinosis is from eating raw
pork because it is one of the most well-known meats around the world.
The reason for this reaction is because the meat can be infected with larvae of a type of
worm parasite called trichinella. When this larvae is consumed by a human the acid in the
stomach dissolves the hard covering of the cyst around the larvae and releases the worms.
After they passed through the small intestine and mature, they began to meet in lay eggs. The
life cycle will then repeat itself in further in fact the host. You can find them within the muscles
enclose in a capsule or encyst. Larval penetration and tissue migration can also occur and in
turn cause an immune-mediated inflammatory reaction and trigger eosinophilia- high levels of
disease fighting white blood cells. The immune system of the host works to push and fight the
parasites out of the body. Because it lives in the intestinal mucosa, it creates the uncomfortable
sensations in the abdomen. They then travel through the bloodstream to find a new place to
inhabit in the skeletal muscle.
The infection can be diagnosed through a blood test or muscle biopsy. The symptoms
may appear within the first few days of eating the contaminated meat and last for 2-8 weeks.
The symptoms can vary in severity but in most cases, they begin with nausea, diarrhea,
vomiting, fatigue, fever, and abdominal discomfort. They can progress and more symptoms can
appear such as headaches, fevers, chills, cough, swelling of the face and eyes, aching joints and
muscle pains, itchy skin, diarrhea or constipation. It can become severe enough where death
may occur. The symptoms are chronic and can last for few months depending on the severity of
the infection.
The infection is treated with antiparasitic drugs to prevent the trichinosis from getting
any worse or progressing. The parasite would be in the skeletal muscle at this point and if not
treated as soon as possible, it will progress, and the treatment will also have to continue for a
longer duration of time. The two main drugs prescribed would be mebendazole or albendazole.
They are each made to subdue the symptoms and kill the adult worms found in the host as an
attempt to stop the progression of the infection. Muscle biopsies can be performed, which is
unlikely, to molecular identification of the trichinella genotype because antibody testing would
not be able to trace them.
About 100,000 people experience having trichinosis around the world every year. It is
not as common in today’s world because it is well known knowledge to not eat raw meat
because of the consequences that may occur. There is no particular gender, culture, or age
group that is particularly affected but people who tend to hunt or camp, are more likely to
contract this infection because of the lack of cleanliness in the wild. To avoid becoming infected
with the trichinella parasite be sure to cook meat at a safe temperature and for a designated
amount of time. Do not taste test the meat until it is finished and thoroughly cooked. Always
wash your hands after touching raw meat to prevent it from spreading to more surfaces and
clean meat grinders after each use.

https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/trichinellosis/prevent.html
https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/trichinellosis/epi.html
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/trichinosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20378583