title: New insights into the molecular epidemiology of Trichinella infection in domestic pigs, wild boars, and bears in Romania.
abstract: Trichinellosis is a food-borne zoonosis caused by the parasitic nematode Trichinella, characterized by an extremely wide host range and geographical distribution. In Romania, it is recognized as one of the most serious zoonotic diseases. A cross-sectional study, covering all regions of Romania, was conducted in 2014 to investigate and update the prevalence of Trichinella infection among domestic pigs, wild boars, and bears. Additional, molecular identification of Trichinella species circulating among these animals was performed in order to establish the biogeography of Trichinella species within the seven geographical regions of Romania. For this, a total of 113,383 pigs raised in non-controlled housing conditions (backyards), 5596 hunted wild boars and 147 hunted bears were subjected to Trichinella analysis. The highest prevalence of Trichinella infections was found in bears (12.93%), followed by wild boars (1.66%) and domestic pigs (0.20%). Of 294 Trichinella isolates that tested positive by multiplex PCR, 219 (74.49%) were identified as Trichinella spiralis, 66 (22.45%) as Trichinella britovi, and 9 isolates (3.06%) as mixed infections of T. spiralis and T. britovi. T. spiralis was more prevalent in domestic pigs (165/228; 72.37%) than in game (63/228; 27.63%), while T. britovi showed a higher prevalence in game (50/75; 66.66%) than in domestic pigs (25/75; 33.33%). Moreover, the present study revealed a significant host- and area- related distribution of Trichinella species within the seven regions of Romania. Therefore, these findings are of epidemiological relevance, updating data on the prevalence and distribution of Trichinella species circulating among domestic and wild animals in South-Eastern Europe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Romania Splaiul Independentei 105, Sector 5, 050097 Bucharest, Romania; Institute of Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Campul Mosilor 5, District 2, 021201 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Isabela Madalina Dragoi
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Nicorescu
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Romania Splaiul Independentei 105, Sector 5, 050097 Bucharest, Romania. Electronic address: ionitamvet@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ionita
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Campul Mosilor 5, District 2, 021201 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Laurentiu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ciupescu
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Romania Splaiul Independentei 105, Sector 5, 050097 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Cristian Vasile
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Buzatu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Campul Mosilor 5, District 2, 021201 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Rodica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tanasuica
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Romania Splaiul Independentei 105, Sector 5, 050097 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Ioan Liviu
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Mitrea
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D014234:Trichinella / Q000235:genetics*; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001503:Ursidae
keywords: Bears; Domestic pigs; Molecular epidemiology; Romania; Trichinella spp.; Wild boars