Outbreak of human trichinellosis in Northern California caused by Trichinella murrelli

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Aug;87(2):297-302. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.12-0075.

Abstract

In October of 2008, an outbreak of trichinellosis occurred in northern California that sickened 30 of 38 attendees of an event at which meat from a black bear was served. Morphologic and molecular testing of muscle from the leftover portion of bear meat revealed that the bear was infected with Trichinella murrelli, a sylvatic species of Trichinella found in temperate North America. Clinical records revealed a high attack rate for this outbreak: 78% for persons consuming any bear meat and 100% for persons consuming raw or undercooked bear meat. To our knowledge, this report is the first published report of a human trichinellosis outbreak in the United States attributed to T. murrelli, and it is the second such outbreak reported worldwide.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Helminth / blood
  • California / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Cohort Studies
  • DNA, Helminth / chemistry
  • DNA, Helminth / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / chemistry
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / genetics
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meat / parasitology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Trichinella / genetics
  • Trichinella / isolation & purification*
  • Trichinellosis / drug therapy
  • Trichinellosis / epidemiology
  • Trichinellosis / parasitology*
  • Ursidae / parasitology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Antibodies, Helminth
  • DNA, Helminth
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer