Autochthonous and imported Trichinella isolates in Germany

The study of Trichinella isolates from wildlife in Germany revealed the presence of Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella britovi in wild boars and foxes. T. spiralis was detected in meat products imported from Spain, which is one of the two endemic areas of domestic trichinellosis in the European Union: It was also detected in meat from a grizzly bear marketed in Alaska, and Trichinella nativa was detected in a polar bear from the Berlin Zoo. These results stress the importance of examining for Trichinella live animals and meat products imported to Germany from both EU and non-EU countries. Furthermore, carnivores from Arctic regions that are born in the wild and placed in toes can represent a risk for the introduction of the freeze-resistant species of Trichinella in a new region if, once the animal dies, the carcass is not properly destroyed. (C)2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.