Trichinella papuae: a zoonotic nematode present in Papua New Guinea
- Author:
Ifor L. Owen
1
;
Edoardo Pozio
2
;
Maria A. Gomez Morales
2
Author Information
1. National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority,
2. Department of Infectious Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Viale Regina Elena
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
Papua New Guinea medical journal
2015;58(1-4):46-54
- CountryPapua New Guinea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The zoonotic nematode, Trichinella papuae, was first discovered in wild and domestic
pigs in the Bensbach area, Morehead District, Western Province of Papua New Guinea
(PNG) in 1988. 15 years later, T. papuae was found in wild pigs and captive crocodiles
(Crocodylus porosus) in the Kikori area, Gulf Province of PNG. An overall prevalence of
anti-Trichinella IgG was detected in 10% (0.0%-36.7%) of 1536 villagers living in Morehead
District by using an ELISA as screening test and a Western blot as confirmatory test. No
anti-Trichinella IgG antibodies were detected in 313 villagers living in the Kikori District in
spite of the fact that T. papuae was circulating in wild pigs in the district. These results may
reflect the different methods of cooking in the two districts. Specific symptoms typical
of trichinellosis were not reported by serologically positive persons living in Morehead
District, although some non-pathognomonic symptoms, common to trichinellosis and
other ailments, were noted. In Thailand, trichinellosis caused by T. papuae was attributed
to the custom of eating large quantities of raw pig meat, a food behaviour not found in
people living in Morehead and Kikori Districts. This fact probably accounts for the lack of
pathognomonic symptoms of trichinellosis in serologically positive people of Morehead
District, although they, as well as the Kikori people, occasionally eat tidbits of raw pork
sufficient, in the case of the Morehead people, to develop an immune response. The
importance of consumer education to eat only thoroughly cooked meat in the localities
where T. papuae is circulating is emphasized.
