Trichinellosis: still a concern for Europe

Trichinellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the ingestion of raw meat containing larvae of the nematode Trichinella. Four species of Trichinella are found in Europe : Trichinella spiralis (cosmopolitan), T. britovi (in wildlife from mountainous areas), T. nativa (in wildlife from colder and northern regions) and T. pseudospiralis (a cosmopolitan nonencapsulating species). Human trichinellosis causes high fever, facial oedema, myositis and eosinophilia. It can be a serious disease, particularly in elderly patients in whom neurological or cardiovascular complications can lead to death.