Diagnosis and epidemiology of Trichinella infections in wildlife in The Netherlands.

Trichinella infections in foxes and wild boars were studied to determine the prevalence of infection in wildlife in the Netherlands. Muscles of 429 forelegs of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and diaphragms of 11 wild boars (Sus scrofa) were artificially digested. Single larvae of Trichinella were identified at species level using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD-PCR). In addition, an ELISA using ES antigen was used to test serum samples of 458 wild boars. The prevalence of Trichinella in foxes ranged from 3.9% in the the eastern part of the country, 13.1% in the central part of the country and 1.3% in the most western part of the country. Trichinella larvae of foxes were identified as T. britovi. In most samples, identification of larvae did not show reproducible results. The serological prevalence of Trichinella infections in wild boars was 6.8%. Wild boar populations are located in the central and in the southern part of the country. Trichinella larvae of wild boar were identified as T. spiralis. These results show that two Trichinella species are involved in the epidemiology of trichinellosis among wildlife. On the basis of previous reports, the present results suggest that the prevalence of Trichinella infection in wildlife is increasing in the last 20 years.