Trichinella spp. in ostrich meat: A public health risk?

In the present work the biological behaviour of T, spiralis and T. pseudosp iralis in ostriches is reported. Oral infections were performed in eight os triches with two infective doses (10,000 and 80,000 larvae) for each specie s of Trichinella. On day 0, 30 and 60 p.i. blood samples were collected to assay the serum changes concerning specific muscle enzyme activities and to tal proteins. The immunological study, to determine specific IgG in sera, w as conducted employing a monoclonal blocking ELISA. From the carcasses of s acrificed animals, samples of various muscle tissues were examined by the d igestion method and by standard histopathologic procedures. The study showe d a low susceptibility of the ostriches to T. pseudospiralis; preferential sites of larval distribution were muscle tissues of the legs. T. spiralis c ould be found in muscle tissues only when a high number of larvae were inoc ulated. Immunological reactivity was found only in animals infected with hi gher doses of T, pseudospiralis.