Susceptibility of nutria (Myocastor coypus) to Trichinella infection: Biological aspects

Experimental infections with three different species of Trichinella in nutr ia in order to evaluate the susceptibility and the role of these rodents in the spreading of parasitosis in nature were carried out. The nutria is pre sent in many italian wet areas and its distribution is expanding. The nutri a meat is utilized as food in different countries and is retained responsib le for trichinellosis in man. Two groups of ten animals were infected per o s with 500 and 5,000 in. 10) infective larvae of T. britovi; on additional study was arranged with two groups of animals infected with 5,000 larvae of T. spiralis and T. pseudospiralis, respectively. After 45 days, all animal s were slaughtered and samples of different muscles were processed by stand ard artificial digestion and by routine histological methods. Serological i nvestigations (specific IgG) have been carried out on sera samples by emplo ying a monoclonal blocking ELISA. The animals showed a significant suscepti bility to the infection with all species of tested Trichinella and immunolo gical reactivity. Data obtained are discussed.