TRICHINELLOSIS EMERGENCY IN SARDINIA

Between April 2005 and March 2006 4 cases of human trichinellosis have been confirmed in the Sardinia region(Italy)as a result of the consumption of the row sausages obtained from free ranging pigs slaughtered illegally. To cope with further new outbreaks, the Sardinia region has undertaken series of actions, such as informative campaigns addressed to the consumers, trichinoscopic examination of the susceptible wildlife object of hunting as well as free ranging pigs illegally reared in the areas where human trichinellosis occurred. The investigations conducted so far indicate the absence of responsible parasite in the wild boar, while demonstrating its presence in the pigs reared in free ranging conditions, confirming the presence of some risk factors for the maintenance and spread of the parasite.