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

## TL;DR

This study reports the first detection of Trichinella pseudospiralis in martens in Croatia, highlighting the risk of trichinellosis from game meat and the need for increased awareness and testing.

## Contribution

The first detection of Trichinella pseudospiralis in the genus Martes in Croatia is reported.

## Key findings

- Trichinella infection was confirmed in 10% of badgers and 9.1% of martens.
- T. pseudospiralis was identified in a stone marten and belongs to the Palaearctic population.
- The study emphasizes the need for further epidemiological studies on Trichinella in Croatia.

## Abstract

Trichinellosis is a cosmopolitan foodborne zoonosis that poses a risk to humans through the consumption of raw or insufficiently heat-treated meat or meat products infected with Trichinella spp. Recently, it has been observed that the risk of trichinellosis increases, particularly after the consumption of infected game meat. After previously conducting research on the risk of infection from wild boar meat in Croatia, in this study we aimed to assess the risk of infection from badger meat, the second most common source of trichinellosis in humans from game meat. Our second objective was to investigate the prevalence of Trichinella infection in other genera of this game family and thus assess their significance in the sylvatic cycle of Trichinella. This paper presents the results of analyses conducted by the Croatian National Reference Laboratory on muscle tissue samples from animals of the Mustelidae family and the Trichinella species identified. We hope that the results of this study will raise awareness among hunters and consumers of game meat regarding responsible handling of game meat, compliance with regulations requiring inspection, and the prevalence of Trichinella infection among wild animals, as well as possible measures to prevent its spread in nature.

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 Trichinella includes domestic pigs as well as game species such as wild boar and bears. In Croatia, hunters occasionally also submit badger (Meles meles) meat for Trichinella testing. In addition to the samples from the genus Meles, samples from two other genera within the same family, Martes and Mustela, 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 (M. meles), 11 martens (M. foina) and from one polecat (M. putorius) were examined using the artificial digestion method. Trichinella infection was confirmed in four badgers (10%) and one marten (9.1%). Molecular identification by multiplex PCR revealed T. spiralis and T. britovi in two badger specimens, while T. pseudospiralis was identified in a stone marten. Further genetic analysis of the T. pseudospiralis 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 T. pseudospiralis in the sylvatic cycle of Trichinella.