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

Karamshahi, Ramin; Rahdar, Mahmoud; Boozhmehrani, Mohammad Javad; Ghoreishi, Seyed Morteza; Tavalla, Mehdi

doi:10.32598/ARI.81.2.4054

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

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

² Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. & Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

³ Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran.

10.32598/ARI.81.2.4054

Abstract

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 2022–2023.
Materials & Methods: Muscle samples from five anatomical sites (tongue, larynx, diaphragm, heart, and mediastinum) and blood samples were collected from 36 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 (0%). However, PCR analysis identified Trichinella britovi DNA in 9 of 36 animals (25%), 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 (86.1%), indicating widespread exposure within the wild boar population. Sequence analysis of PCR products confirmed 100% 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.

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