title: Trichinella nativa in grey seal Halichoerus grypus: spill-over from a highly endemic terrestrial ecosystem.
abstract: Trichinella spp. infections of marine mammals pose a human health risk in Arctic regions where game meat is an important part of the diet. In the last decade, the grey seal population of the sub-arctic Baltic Sea has reached a level at which hunting is possible and seal meat is now available for food. We conducted a survey on the occurrence of Trichinella spp. in grey seals Halichoerus grypus (n  =  171) and ringed seals Phoca hispida botnica (n  =  56) of the Baltic Sea in the coastal waters of Finland, a highly Trichinella sp. endemic area. Muscle samples were examined by a mechanically assisted digestion method during 2006-2010. One grey seal was positive for Trichinella nativa , while all samples from ringed seals were negative. Even though just 1 grey seal was infected, the finding here emphasizes the importance of proper meat inspection of seals intended for human consumption, especially in areas with high infection pressure.
authors.affiliation: Finnish Food Safety Authority (Evira), Production Animal and Wildlife Research Unit, Elektroniikkatie 3, FI-90590 Oulu, Finland. marja.isomursu@evira.fi
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isomursu
authors.forename: Mervi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kunnasranta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005513:Food Inspection / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000469:parasitology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000469:parasitology; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D046049:Phoca; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000469:parasitology*; D014059:Tongue / Q000469:parasitology; D014234:Trichinella / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*