Search for Trichinella spiralis in swine slaughtered in the northwestern state of Parana, Brazil

The parasites of the genus Trichinella spp. cause a zoonosis of worldwide distribution, known as trichinosis. The species Trichenella spiralis is the most prevalent infections in humans and domestic swine are its main reservoir. In humans, the main transmission mechanism is the consumption of pork raw or undercooked meat containing larvae of the parasite, but products such as salami, sausages and bacon, made with pork contaminated Given the damage it can cause to public health, trichinellosis has been concern of most demanding consumer markets for pork. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Trichinella spiralis in swine slaughtered in the northwestern state of Parana. Random samples were examined in 9.520 pigs with an average weight of 110 kg in the period from 2009 to 2011 in a refrigerator located at the northwest of the state of Parana, Brazil. Samples were collected immediately after slaughter, they were crushed and subjected to artificial digestion technique to survey of Trichinella spiralis larvae. The samples examined consisted of 100g of muscular pieces of diaphragm, masseter and tongue. Was not detected the presence of T. spiralis larvae in the samples that were analyzed.