Important biological characteristics of Trichinella genotypes

Background. To control Trichinella, one of the most important food borne parasites, it is necessary to know the biology of the parasite. Scope and Approach. The pathogenicity of Trichinella genotypes mainly depends on its biological characteristics: reproductive capacity index (RCI), infectivity towards different animal species and humans, differences in the number of newborn larvae (NBL) and susceptibility to environmental conditions. Key Findings and Conclusions. Among the Trichinella, T. spiralis has the highest RCI for domestic, synanthropic and some wild animals. This genotype is the most infectious for domestic and wild pigs and has the highest NBL index. T. spiralis is more susceptible to high temperatures, freezing and decay of dead host tissues than the sylvatic genotypes. The pathogenicity of T. spiralis results in its easy and rapid spread across populations of domestic pigs, thus creating opportunities for human disease. T. britovi has a moderate NBL and low RCI for pigs, mice and foxes, but this genotype is resistant to freezing. Other genotypes have high to moderate RCI, NBL and infectivity towards wild animals, have good tolerance towards adverse environmental conditions of low temperature and high humidity, and they usually spread in wild animal populations.