European Union countries are looking for new and more cost-effective ways to control Trichinellosis in pigs. Current methods of routinely performed, post-slaughter testing of each carcass at the slaughterhouse by microscopic techniques or a method known as artificial digestion is costly and is relatively insensitive. Prionics has now developed a more reliable test for this application: the PrioCHECK^® Trichinella Ab, a very sensitive and specific ELISA for detection of antibodies against Trichinella in serum and meat juice samples of pigs.

Trichinellosis is a zoonosis with a worldwide prevalence that is caused by the larvae of the worm Trichinella. Humans can be infected through the consumption of raw or undercooked pork or wild game products. This disease is listed in the European Commission (EC) Zoonoses Directive, which requires that the meat of millions of pigs, horses and game are subject to mandatory inspection. Within the European Union (EU), the total cost of carcass testing of pigs at slaughter is approximately EUR 500 Million annually. Reducing costs for testing and increasing the sensitivity of Trichinella detection achieved by an alternative risk-based surveillance system for Trichinellosis in domestic pigs is, therefore, currently under discussion in the EU.

Cutting testing costs
It is recognized that certain areas in Europe have a very low incidence of Trichinella species infection especially in controlled production animals and domestic animals. Consequently, experts believe that the cost of carcass testing could be drastically reduced by implementing a monitoring program, comparable to that which has recently been started in the US. In the US program, which was initiated and supported by the farm industry, controlled animal holdings are monitored for their risk of having Trichinellosis. An important component of the program is regular testing of blood or meat juice samples of a random sample of pigs for the presence of antibodies against Trichinella species. The new Prionics PrioCHECK^® Trichinella Ab, will be an ideal diagnostic for this type of testing scenario. The PrioCHECK^® Trichinella Ab can detect disease-specific antibodies in serum or meat juice and is faster, more sensitive, and less laborious than currently used methods. Prionics anticipates bringing the PrioCHECK^® Trichinella Ab to market by the end of June, 2007.