Rapid suspension-based screening of Trichinella, Alaria and Sarcocystis spp. in game and processed meat

Abstract

Foodborne zoonoses affect nearly 10% of the global population each year, with parasitic disease making up a significant proportion of these infection. Meat-borne parasites of zoonotic relevance, including Trichinella spp., Sarcocystis spp., and Alaria alata, can be transmitted through pork and other meats, with trichinellosis remaining a significant public health concern despite effective control in domestic pigs. This study introduces a simple, rapid suspension-based method for detecting major meat-borne parasites in fresh and processed meat. The method is intended for rapid, field-applicable detection in research or monitoring where laboratory equipment is limited. Encapsulated Trichinella spp. larvae and Alaria spp. mesocercariae were obtained from naturally infected wild boar muscle and spiked into non-infected pork, minced meat, and sausages (five capsules and five larvae per 50 g; n = 15). Samples were blended with water, filtered, stained with Nile blue or neutral red, cleared with dilute acetic acid, and examined under a stereomicroscope. All spiked Trichinella and Alaria larvae were detected in the experimentally prepared samples under controlled spiking conditions. This corresponds to an experimental recovery level of five larvae per 50 g sample. These findings reflect observations obtained under laboratory conditions and do not represent formally validated diagnostic performance parameters. The method also visualised dead or calcified Trichinella capsules and Sarcocystis cysts within muscle fibres, demonstrating its applicability for detecting multiple parasites in muscle tissue. While not intended to replace official digestion tests, this low-cost method provides a practical tool for detecting multiple meat-borne parasites in fresh and processed tissues. It can enhance field diagnostics and research in resource-limited settings, supporting food safety surveillance, public health, and studies of parasite co-infections in wild or domestic animal populations.