Causes: Trichinosis:
Cases are less commonly associated with pork products and more
often associated with eating raw or undercooked wild game meats. (Source: excerpt from Trichinosis: DPD)
Article excerpts about the
causes of Trichinosis:
Typically, the life cycle of the parasite begins
when a person or an animal eats contaminated meat containing larvae.
Digestive juices from the stomach dissolve the capsule-like cyst and
release the parasites. The larvae then penetrate into the intestine
where they mature and mate. Female worms then pass larvae into the
blood stream where they make their way through the capillaries (tiny
blood vessels) into the muscle fibers. Once in the muscle fibers,
they encyst again and begin a sometimes long
life. (Source: excerpt from Parasitic Roundworm Diseases, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Trichinosis may be found in:
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the causes of Trichinosis.
Both forms of hookworm disease are transmitted to humans through direct skin penetration (usually in the foot) by hookworm larvae in soil contaminated with feces containing hookworm ova. These ova develop into infectious larvae in 1 to 3 days. Larvae travel through the lymphatics to the pulmonary capillaries, where they penetrate alveoli and move up the bronchial tree to the trachea and epiglottis, where they're swallowed and enter the GI tract. When they reach the small intestine, they mature, attach to the jejunal mucosa, and suck blood, oxygen, and glucose from the intestinal wall. These mature worms then deposit ova, which are excreted in the stool, starting the cycle anew. Hookworm larvae mature in approximately 5 to 6 weeks.
Hookworm disease, affecting billions of people worldwide, is most common in moist tropical and subtropical regions. There's little risk of aquiring hookworm disease in the United States because of advances in sanitization and waste control.
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Transmission is through ingestion of uncooked or undercooked meat that contains T. spiralis cysts. Such cysts are found primarily in swine, less commonly in dogs, cats, bears, foxes, wolves, and marine animals. These cysts result from the animals' ingestion of similarly contaminated flesh. In swine, such infection results from eating table scraps or raw garbage.
After gastric juices free the worm from the cyst capsule, it reaches sexual maturity in a few days. The female roundworm burrows into the intestinal mucosa and reproduces. Larvae are then transported through the lymphatic system and the bloodstream. They become embedded as cysts in striated muscle, especially in the diaphragm, chest, arms, and legs. Human-to-human transmission doesn't take place.
Trichinosis, though common worldwide, is seldom seen in the United States because of regulations regarding animal feed and meat processing.
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Consumption of undercooked infected meat; see “Description”
Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008
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