title: Trichinosis caused by ingestion of raw soft-shelled turtle meat in Korea.
abstract: Reptiles, unlike mammals, have been considered to be unsuitable hosts of Trichinella spp., though larvae have been detected in their muscles and human outbreaks related to their consumption have, in fact, occurred. Herein we report 2 Korean cases of trichinosis, possibly transmitted via consumption of reptile meat. Both patients suffered from myalgia, headache, and facial edema. Laboratory examinations revealed leukocytosis with eosinophilia (54% and 39%, respectively) and elevated creatinine phosphokinase. ELISA was performed under the suspicion of trichinosis, showing positivity at the 29th and 60th day post-infection. Since they had consumed raw soft-shelled turtle meat, turtle was strongly suggested to be an infection source of trichinosis in Korea next to the wild boar and badger.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cheongju St. Mary's Hospital, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Rok
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Hyun-Seon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung-Ha
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014234:Trichinella / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D014426:Turtles
keywords: Korea; Trichinella sp.; soft-shelled turtle; trichinosis