[Trichinellosis outbreaks in Spain (1990-2001)].
BACKGROUND
Trichinellosis is a helminth infection having a wide geographical distribution. It is acquired by ingestion of raw or undercooked meat infected with Trichinella spp. The present work reviews the human trichinellosis outbreaks recorded in Spain during 1990-2001, taking into account both the geographical distribution and source of the infection.


METHODS
The parasite was isolated from suspected meats with the digestion technique. Molecular characterization of Trichinella isolates was done by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and Western-blot with US5 and US9 monoclonal antibodies. Anti-Trichinella antibodies in the patients' sera were investigated by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF).


RESULTS
A total of 49 trichinellosis outbreaks were detected in Spain during 1990-2001, 75.5% produced by ingestion of infected wild boar, 14.3% by infected domestic pig and 10.2% by an unknown source. Of the 49 outbreaks, 21 were followed up in our laboratory. We were able to perform molecular identification of the Trichinella species involved in 13 outbreaks, with 61.5% produced by T. britovi and 38.5% by T. spiralis. Serological diagnosis of the trichinellosis patients by IIF allowed confirmation of helminth infection.


CONCLUSIONS
With the use of molecular markers, T. spiralis and T. britovi were identified as the causative organisms in trichinellosis outbreaks detected in Spain during 1990-2001. These results reveal the importance of T. britovi in Spanish public health.
Rodríguez de las Parras
Esperanza
E
Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, España.
Rodríguez-Ferrer
Mercedes
M
Nieto-Martínez
Javier
J
Ubeira
Florencio M
FM
Gárate-Ormaechea
Teresa
T
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000032:analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005506:Food Contamination; D016266:Food Parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva; D008460:Meat / Q000469:parasitology*; D008461:Meat Products / Q000469:parasitology; D012703:Serotyping; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine / Q000469:parasitology; D014234:Trichinella / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D018509:DNA, Helminth