VPH Abattoir Parasites

Question 1

What are the 10 main parasites of concern in abattoirs within he UK?

Answer 1

1. Taenia saginata
2. Taenia solium
3. Taenia bovis
4. Taenia ovis
5. Taenia hydatigena
6. Taenia multiceps
7. Echinococcus granulosas
8. Echinococcus multiocularis
9. Ascaris suum
10. Trichinella spiralis

Question 2

What are the definitive and intermediate hosts for taenia saginata?

Answer 2

Definitive: human
Intermediate: cattle

Question 3

What are the definitive and intermediate hosts for taenia solium?

Answer 3

Definitive: human
Intermediate: pigs or humans

Question 4

What are the definitive and intermediate hosts for taenia hydatigena?

Answer 4

Definitive: dog, fox
Intermediate: cattle, sheep (more common)

Question 5

What are the definitive and intermediate hosts for taenia ovis?

Answer 5

Definitive: dog, fox
Intermediate: sheep, goat

Question 6

What are the definitive and intermediate hosts for taenia multiceps?

Answer 6

Definitive: dog
Intermediate: cattle, sheep

Question 7

What are the definitive and intermediate hosts for echinococcus granulosus?

Answer 7

Definitive: dog
Intermediate: sheep, cattle, humans, rodents

Question 8

What are the definitive and intermediate hosts for echinococcus multiocularis?

Answer 8

Definitive: dog
Intermediate: sheep, cattle, humans, rodents

Question 9

What are the definitive and intermediate hosts for fasciola hepatica?

Answer 9

Definitive: cattle, sheep, goats
Intermediate: freshwater snail (lymnaea truncatula)

Question 10

What are the definitive and intermediate hosts for Ascaris suum?

Answer 10

Definitive: pig
Intermediate: NONE - direct lifecycle

Question 11

What are the definitive and intermediate hosts for trichinella spiralis?

Answer 11

Definitive: pigs
Intermediate: humans, rodents, horses, (bears)

Question 12

What is the lifecycle of taenia saginata/solium in which the human is the definitive host?

Answer 12

Humans ingest cysts in meat –> adult in SI = definitive –> proglotids/eggs shed in faeces –> pig/cattle/intermediate host ingests contaminated faeces from human manure spreading

Question 13

What is the lifecycle of taenia saginata/solium in which the human is the intermediate host?

Answer 13

Human reingests proglotids from another human/self (poor hygiene) –> oncospheres in SI = intermediate –> oncospheres penetrate SI walls –> circulate musculature –> develop into cysticerci (cysticercosis)

Question 14

Lesions in cattle: calcified/small white cysts in the following locations: heart, liver, skeletal masseter muscle, diaphragm
What is the parasite?

Answer 14

Taenia saginata

Question 15

Lesions in pigs: calcified/small white cysts in the following locations: heart, liver, skeletal masseter muscle, diaphragm
What is the parasite?

Answer 15

Taenia solium

Question 16

Lesions in sheep: very large fluid filled cysts (sometimes with a scolex head within)
Locations: liver, diaphragm, omentum and general abdomen
What is the parasite?

Answer 16

Taenia hydatigena

Question 17

Lesions in sheep: white serpentine tracks on surface of liver
What is the parasite and what causes these “tracks”?

Answer 17

Taenia hydatigena

Question 18

Lesions in sheep: small, white cysts sometimes calcified with a “gritty” texture
Locations: heart, diaphragm, skeletal muscle
What is the parasite?

Answer 18

Taenia ovis

Question 19

Lesions in sheep: cysts within brain, eyes, muscle or CNS
What is the parasite?

Answer 19

Taenia multiceps

Question 20

If a sheep is showing neuro signs, emaciation or oedema in antemortem stage what parasite are you most suspicious of?

Answer 20

Taenia multiceps

Question 21

Lesions in sheep: Large, well-demarcated, encapsulated cysts filled with yellow fluid
Locations: liver, lungs, CNS, bone, heart (can be found anywhere)
What parasite is this?

Answer 21

Echinococcus granulosus

Question 22

Lesions in sheep: cysts within lungs +/- multiple areas of the carcass with poorly defined borders
What is the parasite?

Answer 22

Echinococcus multiocularis

Question 23

Lesions in sheep: “Pipe stem” dilated bile ducts. Black adhesions between liver and diaphragm
Location: liver and bile ducts
What is the parasite?

Answer 23

Fasciola hepatica

Question 24

Lesions in pigs: diffuse/multifocal white spots on the liver.
What is the parasite?

Answer 24

Ascaris suum “milk spot”

Question 25

What should you do with carcasses infected with taenia saginata?

Answer 25

More than 1 location: condemn carcass - Category 2 1 location only: Infected carcase frozen for 3 weeks at -7 degrees or 2 weeks at -10 degrees

Question 26

What should you do with carcasses infected with taenia solium?

Answer 26

Condemn carcase (only 1 location - not always a complete carcass rejection) Category 2

Question 27

What should you do with carcasses infected with taenia hydatigena?

Answer 27

If multiple locations: Condemn whole carcass - category 2 If only one organ Partial rejection (liver/affected area - Category 2

Question 28

What should you do with a carcass infected with taenia ovis?

Answer 28

If 1 location (heart): partial rejection of organ - Category 2 If >3 locations: condemn whole carcase - Category 2

Question 29

What should you do with a carcass infected with taenia multiceps?

Answer 29

* If in 1 location * Under 12 months: Condemn brain and head if present here only = category 2 * Over 12 months: Condemn brain and head if present here only = category 1 * If in multiple locations condemn whole carcass: * Over 12 months SRM category 1/carcass category 2 Under 12 months whole carcass category 2

Question 30

What should you do with a carcass infected with echinococcus granulosus?

Answer 30

If present Partial rejection of liver/affected organ - Category 2

Question 31

What should you do with a carcass infected with echinococcus multiocularis?

Answer 31

If present = NOTIFY APHA

Question 32

What should you do with a carcass infected with fasciola hepatica?

Answer 32

Partial rejection of liver only - Category 3

Question 33

What should you do with a carcass infected with ascaris suum?

Answer 33

Partial rejection of liver - Category 3 (safe for animals)

Question 34

Is Taenia saginata in the UK and is it zoonotic?

Answer 34

Yes it is zoonotic Yes it is in the UK but rare and mostly in the north (flooding)

Question 35

Is Taenia solium in the UK and is it zoonotic?

Answer 35

Yes it is zoonotic - causes neurocysticosis Yes it is in the UK - RARE

Question 36

Is Taenia hydatigena in the UK and is it zoonotic?

Answer 36

Yes it is zoonotic Yes it is in the UK but it is NOT VERY COMMON

Question 37

Is taenia ovis in the UK and is it zoonotic?

Answer 37

No it is not zoonotic Yes it is in the UK - very low level and often in older sheep

Question 38

Is taenia multiceps in the UK and is it zoonotic?

Answer 38

Yes it is zoonotic - can cause coenurosis No - only Wales and Scotland

Question 39

Is echinococcus granulosus in the UK and is it zoonotic?

Answer 39

Yes it is not zoonotic Yes it is in the UK - wales and hebrides

Question 40

Is echinococcus multiocularis zoonotic and is it in the UK?

Answer 40

Yes it is zoonotic - can be fatal for humans No it is not in the UK - NOTIFIABLE

Question 41

Is fasciola hepatica in the UK and is it zoonotic?

Answer 41

Yes - only from infected water cress (not animal carcass) Yes it is endemic in the UK

Question 42

Is ascaris suum in the UK and is it zoonotic?

Answer 42

No it is not zoonotic Yes it is in the UK - common in outdoor pigs

Question 43

Is trichinella spp (spiralis) in the UK and is it zoonotic?

Answer 43

Yes it is zoonotic - can be fatal for humans No it is not in the UK - NOTIFIABLE

Question 44

What should you do with a carcass infected with trichinella spiralis?

Answer 44

If found TOTAL REJECTION - Category 2 DO NOT FREEZE THE CARCASS: kills cyst and may need to sample for trichinella

Question 45

Explain how and when trichinella sampling is carried out

Answer 45

* Testing for pigs (OV): animals from uncontrolled housing (access to outside), wild boars - info from FCI - Sample taken from diaphragm (striated muscle) & submitted for testing. - Testing via trichinelloscopy (Microscopy). - Digestion method to remove muscle cell to look for parasite Carcasses must be stored in a separate chiller and IDENTIFIABLE for sample results