July 18, 2007

Prionics launches highly sensitive test for trichenellosis
 

Press release
 

Prionics, a world leader in farm animal diagnostics, has introduced a highly sensitive and specific test for the detection of trichinella spp. in pigs.

Trichinellosis is one of the most significant parasitic zoonoses worldwide which can cause severe illness in humans through consumption of raw or undercooked pork or wild game products. Currently, new surveillance programmes are being discussed within the European Union.

At present, trichinellosis is listed in the European Commission (EC) Zoonoses Directive, which requires that the meat of millions of pigs, horses and game undergo mandatory inspection. Accordingly, national reference laboratories and other bodies across Europe are now looking for new and more cost-effective ways to control trichinellosis as specified in the new EC Regulation 2075/2005.

The current method of routinely performing post-slaughter testing of each carcass at the slaughterhouse by artificial digestion is costly and relatively insensitive. According to Prionics, the new PrioCHECK Trichinella Ab ELISA test has proven significantly more reliable, highly sensitive and specific for detection of antibodies against trichinella in serum and meat juice samples of pigs.

The ELISA assay detects trichinella spp. in infected pigs with a larval load of 0.02 larva/g pig meat. PrioCHECK Trichinella Ab is highly specific as it shows no cross-reactivity with other commonly found pig parasites such as Ascaris, Trichuris, Hyostrongylus, or Strongyloides.

Within the European Union (EU), the total cost of carcass testing of pigs for trichinellosis at slaughter is approximately EUR500 million (about US$690.322 million) annually. Consequently, reducing testing costs while at the same time increasing the sensitivity of trichinella detection, achieved by an alternative risk-based surveillance system for trichinellosis in domestic pigs, is currently under discussion.

Experts believe that the cost of carcass testing could be significantly reduced by implementing risk-based monitoring programmes, where regular testing of blood or meat juice samples of only a random sample of pigs would need to be carried out.

PrioCHECK Trichinella Ab is a diagnostic tool ideal for this type of testing scenario as it detects disease-specific antibodies in serum or meat juice, and is faster, more sensitive and less laborious than conventional methods, Prionics said. Overall, this new ELISA test is expected to help improve farm management techniques and hygiene while reducing costs for the monitoring of pig herds.

Further information regarding trichinellosis is available on the official website of the International Commission on Trichinellosis (http://monsite.wanadoo.fr/intcomtrichinellosis/) or on the homepage of the American Trichinella Herd Certification Pilot Program (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/trichinae/).