title: Human beings are highly susceptible to low doses of Trichinella spp.
abstract: Trichinella is an important foodborne pathogen causing considerable morbidity and mortality. To prevent human trichinellosis, meat inspection for Trichinella spp. at slaughter is a key instrument. Current testing is based on minimal infectious dose in humans, but a scientific basis for this approach is lacking. To this end, a dose-response model must be developed, allowing translation of exposure into disease burden at the population level. We developed novel methods for dose-response assessment using outbreak data incorporating sexual reproduction of the parasite. A selection of suitable outbreak studies, reporting numbers exposed and infected, as well as estimated doses, was collated from a literature study. Humans appear to be highly susceptible: exposure to low doses (few larvae) is associated with a considerable risk of infection. As a consequence, levels of Trichinella in meat must be low to maintain acceptable health risks.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, RIVM (National Institute of Public Health and the Environment), Bilthoven, The Netherlands. peter.teunis@rivm.nl
authors.forename: P F M
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Teunis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koningstein
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takumi
authors.forename: J W B
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van der Giessen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000469:parasitology; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis / Q000469:parasitology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods*; D012098:Reproduction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014234:Trichinella; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control