Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Trichinella Species in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) Populations of Khuzestan Province, Iran

Introduction: Trichinellosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by nematodes of the genus Trichinella, maintained primarily through a sylvatic cycle involving wildlife reservoirs. Wild boars (Sus scrofa) play a key epidemiological role in sustaining transmission and represent a potential source of human infection through the consumption of undercooked meat. This study aimed to detect and molecularly characterize Trichinella species in wild boars from Khuzestan Province, southwestern Iran, during ۲۰۲۲–۲۰۲۳. Materials & Methods: Muscle samples from five anatomical sites (tongue, larynx, diaphragm, heart, and mediastinum) and blood samples were collected from ۳۶ wild boars. Parasitological examination was performed using artificial enzymatic digestion, while molecular detection targeted the mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (mt-rrnS) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serological analysis was conducted using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit to detect anti-Trichinella IgG antibodies. Results: No larvae were detected by enzymatic digestion (۰%). However, PCR analysis identified Trichinella britovi DNA in ۹ of ۳۶ animals (۲۵%), with positive samples mainly from tongue muscle, followed by diaphragm and heart tissues. Eleven tissue samples were PCR-positive, and two animals showed multi-tissue involvement. ELISA revealed a high seropositivity rate (۸۶.۱%), indicating widespread exposure within the wild boar population. Sequence analysis of PCR products confirmed ۱۰۰% homology with T. britovi reference sequences in GenBank. Conclusion: The discrepancy between digestion and molecular findings suggests lowintensity or unevenly distributed infections, highlighting the higher sensitivity of molecular methods for detecting minimal parasite burdens. The predominance of T. britovi supports the existence of an active sylvatic transmission cycle in Khuzestan. These findings emphasize the zoonotic risk associated with wild boar meat consumption and underscore the need for continued surveillance and public health awareness programs targeting hunters and high-risk populations.

کلیدواژه ها:

Khuzestan Province ، molecular detection ، Trichinella britovi ، wild boar