Assessment of Trichinella Infection in Animals from Argentina

Parasites of the genus Trichinella are widely distributed and infect a wide range of domestic and wild animals. Their presence spans across various continents, impacting agricultural and wildlife ecosystems alike. In Argentina, Trichinella spiralis, Trichinella patagoniensis, and Trichinella pseudospiralis have been detected infecting both domestic and wild animals. The aim of the present study is to detect Trichinella spp. in samples from domestic pigs and wildlife across Argentina between 2019 and 2024 and to identify these parasites at the species level. A total of 216 samples from domestic and wild animals underwent artificial digestion. In cases where a positive result was obtained, muscle larvae were further processed using PCR targeting the ESV region. Samples originating from 16 animals were analyzed. Among the animals tested, 52 were positive for Trichinella spp., including two pumas infected with T. patagoniensis; 43 domestic pigs, with 34 identified as T. spiralis at the species level; and seven wild boars, with five identified as T. spiralis at the species level. The present study enhances our understanding of the distribution and transmission dynamics of Trichinella among domestic and wild animals in Argentina.