First Report of the Occurrence of Trichinella- Specific Antibodies in Domestic Pigs in Central and Eastern Uganda
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Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PLoS ONE
Abstract
Previous research on trichinellosis in Africa focused on isolating Trichinella from wildlife
while the role of domestic pigs has remained highly under-researched. Pig keeping in
Uganda is historically recent, and evidence on zoonotic pig diseases, including infection
with Trichinella species, is scarce. A cross-sectional survey on Trichinella seroprevalence in
pigs was conducted in three districts in Central and Eastern Uganda from April 2013 to January
2015. Serum from a random sample of 1125 pigs from 22 villages in Eastern and Central
Uganda was examined to detect immunoglobulin G (IgG) against any Trichinella spp. using
a commercially available ELISA based on excretory-secretory antigen. ELISA positive samples
were confirmed using Western Blot based on somatic antigen of Trichinella spiralis as
recommended in previous validation studies. Diaphragm pillar muscle samples (at least 5 g
each) of 499 pigs from areas with high ELISA positivity were examined using the artificial
digestion method. Overall, 78 of all 1125 animals (6.9%, 95% CI: 5.6±8.6%) tested positive
for antibodies against Trichinella spp. in the ELISA at significantly higher levels in Kamuli
district compared to Masaka and Mukono districts. Thirty-one percent of the ELISA positive
samples were confirmed IgG positive by the Western Blot leading to an overall seroprevalence
of 2.1% (95% CI: 1.4±3.2%). The large proportion of ELISA positive samples that
could not be confirmed using Western blot may be the result of cross-reactivity with other
gastrointestinal helminth infections or unknown host-specific immune response mechanisms
in local pig breeds in Uganda. Attempts to isolate muscle larvae for species determination
using the artificial digestion method were unsuccessful. Due to the large number of
muscle samples examined we are confident that even if pigs are infected, the larval burden
in pork is too low to pose a major risk to consumers of developing trichinellosis. This was the
first large systematic field investigation of Trichinella infection in domestic pigs in Uganda
Description
Keywords
Trichinella- Specific Antibodies, Domestic Pigs, Uganda
Citation
Roesel K, NoÈckler K, Baumann MPO, Fries R, Dione MM, Clausen P-H, et al. (2016) First Report of the Occurrence of Trichinella-Specific Antibodies in Domestic Pigs in Central and Eastern Uganda. PLoS ONE 11(11): e0166258. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0166258