Detection of Trichinella infection in slaughter horses by artificial digestion, ELISA and PCR.

In this study we compared the sensitivity of molecular, serologic and parasitologic methods for diagnosis of equine trichinellosis in two abattoirs, one rural and one federal inspection type. Diaphragm muscle samples were obtained from 170 slaughter horses and examined by artificial digestion and PCR. Serum samples from these horses were also analyzed by ELISA. No Trichinella muscle larvae were detected by artificial digestion. However, specific antibodies against Trichinella were detected in 17% and 7% of the serum samples examined from the rural and the federal abattoirs respectively. By PCR, 15% and 2% of the samples from these two abattoirs were Trichinella positive.