BfR Annual Report 2015

63 / 112

61
Infections due to roundworms common
throughout the world
Over 120 attendees from 35 countries came together at
the 14th International Trichinellosis Conference in Berlin in
September 2015 to discuss their research findings. Trich-
inellosis (synonym trichinosis) is a dangerous food-borne
infectious disease which affects several thousand peo-
ple worldwide every year. During the conference, which
was staged in cooperation with the Freie Universität
Berlin (FUB), the German Society of Veterinary Medicine
(DVG) and the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
(BMEL), the participants presented comprehensive se-
quencing data on all Trichinella species known to date
and engaged in an in-depth discussion of the results of
genome and proteome research. This will pave the way
for a more detailed understanding of the links between
the genetic, structural and functional properties of these
parasites and the optimisation of diagnostic methods,
and will also shed more light on the epidemiological re-
lationships.
Trichinellosis is caused by roundworms of the genus
Trichinella. Although testing for Trichinella in pigs, horses
and wild boars is compulsory in the European Union,
trichinellosis outbreaks in Germany, while rare, do occur
at regular intervals of several years. These are mostly
caused by the consumption of insufficiently cooked
game meat, raw wild boar products or imported raw sau-
sage and ham.
Trichinella larvae are predominantly found in the meat of
pigs and wild boars, although they can also be present
in horses and bears. The animals are typically infected
when they eat rotten carcasses. Through the consump-
tion of raw or insufficiently heated meat or products
made from the meat of affected animals, the larvae con-
tained in the muscle meat of these animals can be in-
gested by humans and cause illness.
i More information on trichinellosis:
Trichinellosis is caused by roundworms of the genus
Trichinella.
More than 120 scientists participated in the International
Trichinellosis Conference.
>>
Despite testing for Trichinella in pigs, horses and
wild boars by the European Union, trichinellosis
outbreaks in Germany, while rare, do occur at regular
intervals of several years.
Food Safety