
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Trichinosis epidemiology and demographics
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Worldwide, an estimated 10,000 cases of trichinosis occur every year.[1] Trichinosis is rare in developed countries, but it is still common in developing countries.
Epidemiology and demographics
Epidemiology and demographics



Incidence
- Worldwide, an estimated 10,000 cases of trichinosis occur every year.
- During 2008β2012, a total of 90 cases of trichinosis were reported in the USA.
- In the USA, the average of trichinosis is approximately 15 cases per year.[1]
Mortality Rate
- The mortality rate of trichinosis is approximately 0.2% worldwide.[2]
Age
- Trichinosis most commonly affects individuals 30 to 39 years of age.[3]
- Although infections also occur in children and adolescents, the predominance of infection in adults probably results from culture-driven food behavior.
- Improperly cooked or prepared meat dishes may be more commonly eaten at adult-oriented events, especially among alcohol consumers.[4]
Gender
- Men are more commonly affected with trichinosis than women.[3]
Race
- There is no racial predilection to trichinosis.
Developed Countries
- In the US and EU, the overall incidence of trichinosis is low given the improved pig-raising practices in the pork industry, commercial and home freezing of pork, and public awareness of the danger of eating raw or undercooked meat products.
- The number of cases associated with raw or undercooked wild game meats has remained relatively constant over time.[1][5][6]
Developing Countries
- Trichinosis is common in developing countries where meat fed to pigs is either raw or undercooked.[7]
- In South America, outbreaks in Argentina are common.
- Incidence data from developing countries are limited.
- In Asia, the majority of the outbreaks were reported from Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, and the northern mountainous regions among the indigenous people who practice free-roaming pig husbandry.[4]
| Disease | Geographical Distribution |
|---|---|
| T. spiralis | Cosmopolitan |
| T. britovi | Europe, Asia, northern and western Africa |
| T. nativa | Arctic, subarctic regions |
| T. papuae | Papua New Guinea, Thailand |
| T. nelsoni | Eastern Africa |
| T. murrelli | North America |
| T. zimbabwensis | Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Ethiopia, South Africa |
References
References
- β 1.0 1.1 1.2 Trichinellosis. CDC. http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/trichinellosis/epi.html. Accessed on January 28, 2016
- β Pozio E (2007). “World distribution of Trichinella spp. infections in animals and humans”. Vet Parasitol. 149 (1β2): 3β21. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.07.002. PMIDΒ 17689195.
- β 3.0 3.1 Trichinellosis Surveillance β United States, 2008β2012. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report- CDC. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6401a1.html. Accessed on January 28, 2016
- β 4.0 4.1 Murrell KD, Pozio E (2011). “Worldwide occurrence and impact of human trichinellosis, 1986-2009”. Emerg Infect Dis. 17 (12): 2194β202. doi:10.3201/eid1712.110896. PMCΒ 3311199. PMIDΒ 22172230.
- β Gottstein B, Pozio E, NΓΆckler K (2009). “Epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and control of trichinellosis”. Clin Microbiol Rev. 22 (1): 127β45, Table of Contents. doi:10.1128/CMR.00026-08. PMCΒ 2620635. PMIDΒ 19136437.
- β Kapel CM (2005). “Changes in the EU legislation on Trichinella inspection–new challenges in the epidemiology”. Vet Parasitol. 132 (1β2): 189β94. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.05.055. PMIDΒ 16039781.
- β 7.0 7.1 Trichinosis. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichinosis. Accessed on January 28, 2016
- β Gottstein B, Pozio E, NΓΆckler K (2009). “Epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and control of trichinellosis”. Clin Microbiol Rev. 22 (1): 127β45, Table of Contents. doi:10.1128/CMR.00026-08. PMCΒ 2620635. PMIDΒ 19136437.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Danitza Lukac
