Trichinella spiralis.

Essay by DumbfrogJunior High, 9th gradeA, May 2003

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Trichinosis

The scientific name is Trichinella spiralis. The organism of Trichina is a small roundworm that causes the disease of trichinosis. The worm is a parasite. It lives by feeding on other animals. Trichina is in the Trichina family.

One can get trichinosis by eating uncooked meat. If an animal is alive and has the disease it will be fine, yet the disease will leave in a period of time, but if it is killed with the disease than the meat will maintain being contaminated. The larvae usually lives in the chest and neck. The larvae comes from small cysts. The cysts attach themselves to the intestine, the larvae that survive become adult worms in 3-4 days. The largest worm grows to a size of about ¼ inch. The females burrow into the intestine wall where they produce much larvae. The larvae enter the blood stream and get carried all over the body.

When they leave the blood stream, they develop cysts in muscles.

Some people have no symptoms, but others suffer from diarrhea, nausea and vomiting due to the irritated intestine. When the larvae passes through the blood stream, fever, headache, and muscular pain occur. When it reaches the muscles and begins producing cysts, swelling of the face and bruising may occur. Cysts could develop in the diaphragm which will cause painful breathing. Occasionally the disease is fatal.

Trichina could be prevented. Have garbage containing meat cooked before fed to animals especially hogs. Meat packers should freeze the meat. Cooks should be sure that the central section of the meat (pork) is held in at least 137 F (58 C) for 5 minutes.

Trichina can be found in humans and mainly rats, hog, and bears. Trichina has been around for many years. In Canada and the United...