First Detection of Trichinella pseudospiralis in the Genus Martes Within a Croatian Mustelid Survey

The prevention of trichinellosis is one of the most important tasks of the public veterinary services. In most EU countries, mandatory testing for parasites of the genus <i>Trichinella</i> includes domestic pigs as well as game species such as wild boar and bears. In Croatia, hunters occasionally also submit badger (<i>Meles meles</i>) meat for <i>Trichinella</i> testing. In addition to the samples from the genus <i>Meles</i>, samples from two other genera within the same family, <i>Martes</i> and <i>Mustela</i>, were analysed. These specimens were most frequently delivered to the laboratory, as roadkill, within a passive surveillance program for the rabies virus. During a 14-year study period, muscle samples from 40 badgers (<i>M. meles</i>), 11 martens (<i>M. foina</i>) and from one polecat (<i>M. putorius</i>) were examined using the artificial digestion method. <i>Trichinella</i> infection was confirmed in four badgers (10%) and one marten (9.1%). Molecular identification by multiplex PCR revealed <i>T. spiralis</i> and <i>T. britovi</i> in two badger specimens, while <i>T. pseudospiralis</i> was identified in a stone marten. Further genetic analysis of the <i>T. pseudospiralis</i> isolate demonstrated its belonging to the Palaearctic population. This study evaluates the epidemiological significance of these findings in relation to trichinellosis, the most important foodborne parasitosis in Croatia, and emphasizes the need for further epidemiological studies in the country targeting both Mustelidae and <i>T. pseudospiralis</i> in the sylvatic cycle of <i>Trichinella.</i>