5100 x 4004 px | 43,2 x 33,9 cm | 17 x 13,3 inches | 300dpi
Data acquisizione:
16 febbraio 2015
Altre informazioni:
Photomicrograph of Trichinella spiralis cysts seen embedded in a muscle tissue specimen, in a case of trichinellosis.Trichinellosis is acquired by ingesting meat containing cysts (encysted larvae) of Trichinella sp. roundworm (nematode) parasites. After exposure to gastric acid and pepsin, the larvae are released from the cysts and invade the small bowel mucosa where they develop into adult worms (female 2.2 mm in length, males 1.2 mm; life span in the small bowel: 4 weeks). After 1 week, the females release larvae that migrate to the striated muscles where they encyst. Encystment is completed in 4 to 5 weeks, and the encysted larvae may remain viable for several years. Ingestion of the encysted larvae perpetuates the cycle.Rats and rodents are primarily responsible for maintaining the endemicity of this infection. Carnivorous/omnivorous animals, such as pigs or bears, feed on infected rodents or meat from other animals. Different animal hosts are implicated in the life cycle of the different species of Trichinella. Humans are accidentally infected when eating improperly processed meat of these carnivorous animals (or eating food contaminated with such meat).
