Chapter 24 : Helminths in Meat

Abstract:

Foodborne parasites pose a risk to human health in virtually all regions of the world. In addition to the direct effect that these parasites have on human health, zoonotic parasites found in food animals often serve as trade barriers for countries where these parasites occur. A considerable body of legislation has been developed for the purpose of preventing and controlling zoonotic parasites in food animals, including very costly meat inspection programs. There are four meat-borne helminths of medical significance: Trichinella spp., Taenia solium, and Taenia asiatica, which occur primarily in pork, and Taenia saginata, which is found in beef. Despite the availability of sensitive, specific diagnostic tests, veterinary public health programs (meat inspection), and effective chemotherapeutic agents for human tapeworm carriers, these parasites continue to be a threat to public health in many parts of the world. There are a variety of reasons for this, including animal management systems that perpetuate infection, inadequate or poorly enforced inspection requirements for slaughtered animals, new sources of infection, and demographic changes in human populations that introduce new culinary practices of preparing meats. Current control and preventive procedures are often inadequate, and more effective control measures are needed to ensure safe meat for human consumption.