Over a century of progress on Trichinella research in pigs at the United States Department of Agriculture: Challenges and solutions

Authors: Dubey, Jitender; Thompson, Peter; Fournet, Valsin; HILL, DOLORES - Former ARS Employee; ZARLENGA, DANTE - Former ARS Employee; GAMBLE, HOWARD - Collaborator; Rosenthal, Benjamin

Submitted to: Food and Waterborne Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/2024
Publication Date: 7/26/2024
Citation: Dubey, J.P., Thompson, P.C., Fournet, V.M., Hill, D., Zarlenga, D., Gamble, H., Rosenthal, B.M. 2024. Over a century of progress on Trichinella research in pigs at the United States Department of Agriculture: Challenges and solutions. Food and Waterborne Parasitology. 36(1). Article e00239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00239.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00239

Interpretive Summary: Trichinellosis is parasitic zoonotic disease of humans worldwide. Uncooked pork was the main source of infection for humans, until successful control efforts relegated most infections to consumption of wild game. Even where biosecurity measures now protect pig herds, stigma and fear persist, dissuading pork consumption and inducing consumers to cook pork more than safety standards require. The United States Department of Agriculture has conducted research on Trichinella infections since late 1890’s. Owing to singular public health successes as a result of efforts by the present and past scientists at the Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory at BARC, trichinellosis in the USA constitutes a minor public health concern. Given that the USA is one of the world’s leading exporters of pork, the healthful reputation of the product should be of interest to consumers everywhere. This justifies continued interest by the US pork industry in documenting and communicating the safety of the food it produces. Here the authors review progress made in controlling Trichinella infections in pigs in the USA, and pay tribute to Dr. K.D. Murrell, who paid a major role in this research. This review will be of interest to pork industry, international and national collaborators, veterinarians, physicians, biologists, and parasitologists.

Technical Abstract: Trichinellosis, caused by 13 species/subspecies/genotypes in the nematode genus Trichinella, is a worldwide zoonosis. In the United States, trichinellosis was of historical and economic significance because of European restrictions on the import of U.S. pork. Before the advent of effective protective measures, most cases of trichinellosis were derived from consumption of undercooked or inadequately processed, infected pork. Research conducted at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) since 1891, and policies established by USDA regulatory agencies, have helped to reduce Trichinella infections in commercially raised domestic pigs to negligible levels. Here, we review the history of this scientific progress, placing special emphasis on research conducted at the USDA's Beltsville Agricultural Research Center.