Presidential address of ICT12 Conference: "Trichinella and trichinellosis--a never ending story"

Abstract

Trichinellosis remains an important zoonotic disease on a global basis, related primarily to the consumption of pork as well as variety of wild life species and horsemeat. This disease is still present in eastern Europe, China, and Argentina, and huge outbreaks have emerged in Turkey and Laos. Many advances have been made in the understanding and the prevention of the parasite and the disease. New proteins interfering with the cell cycle and maintaining the nurse cell have been identified. Trichinella is a fascinating model for immunologists and biochemists: description of new mediators, chromosomal mapping of host resistance, antibodies recognising heart-specific antigens and inducing myocarditis, identification of early stage antigens, alleviation of respiratory flu infection or of autoimmune diabetes in mice. New regulations for meat inspection and efficient quality control programs have been discussed and implemented. The members of the International Commission on Trichinellosis regularly convene to discuss the latest scientific issues dealing with this parasitic zoonosis.