Trichinella spiralis | IgG antibodies

General Information

Trichinella spiralis is a parasite of the nematode class, which lives in the larval stage in the muscles of wild mammals (bear, badger, wolf, fox, rodents), as well as some domestic animals, for example, pigs.

Eating undercooked meat can also make people sick. The clinical manifestations of the disease are diverse.

In infected meat, the parasite is in the larval stage, which, under the influence of gastric juice, comes out of the fibers of the meat consumed and migrates through the small intestine mucosa with blood and lymph. The parasite reaches the muscle tissue and, upon reaching the adult form (within 24 hours after ingestion), begins to produce new larvae. The resulting larvae also begin to migrate with blood and lymph and spread to other skeletal muscles. Muscles that are richly supplied with blood and are characterized by high physical activity are especially actively damaged: the muscles of the tongue, the muscles of the palate, the eye movement, etc.

The incubation period of the disease is 5-10 days, after which symptoms begin: nausea/vomiting, fever. This is accompanied by severe headache, rash, pain and swelling of damaged muscles, endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart), etc. Myalgia and muscle swelling may be prolonged.

Diagnosis of the disease is based on serological studies and the detection of parasite larvae in muscle biopsy.

Detection of IgG antibodies by ELISA is a highly sensitive test that detects G antibodies 12-14 days after infection.

IgG antibodies persist for years

Patient preparation – it is not necessary

Research material - Venous blood

The test is qualitative.

Interpretation of results

A negative result of a serological test does not exclude a past infectious process. A false-negative or equivocal result occurs in the early stages of the disease due to insufficient concentration of antibodies in the serum. If clinical and laboratory data contradict each other, it is advisable to repeat the test in 2-4 weeks.