International Commission on Trichinellosis: Recommendations on pre-harvest control of Trichinella in food animals

• Published in: Food and waterborne parasitology Vol. 15; p. e00039
• Main Authors: Gamble, H. Ray, Alban, Lis, Hill, Dolores, Pyburn, Dave, Scandrett, Brad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.06.2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: Controlled management; Negligible risk; Pork; Trichinella; Controlled management; Trichinella; Negligible risk; Pork
• ISSN: 2405-6766; 2405-6766
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2019.e00039

Transmission of Trichinella to domestic livestock, notably pigs, is limited to certain risk factors including feeding of raw meat-containing waste products or animal carcasses and exposure to infected rodents and wildlife. Prevention of infection in food animals is dependent on eliminating risk of exposure to these potential sources of Trichinella. By implementing conditions of controlled management, pig herds can be considered to pose a negligible risk for Trichinella, and groups of herds which follow these same conditions can be considered to be a compartment with negligible risk for Trichinella. Pork from pigs originating from a negligible risk herd or compartment would not require further testing or processing to protect consumers from this parasite. Verifying the status of pigs from a controlled management negligible risk herd or compartment can be accomplished by a program of regular audits or by implementing surveillance testing of a statistical sample of pigs from the herd or compartment. •Exposure of pigs to Trichinella can be limited in a controlled management system.•Controlled management prevents contact with wildlife, birds and rodents.•Controlled management requires good manufacturing and storage practices for feed.•Verification of controlled management can be achieved by auditing or surveillance.•Pork considered negligible risk does not require testing or processing for Trichinella.