Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

The Korea Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (대한기생충학·열대의학회)
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An Outbreak of Trichinellosis by Consumption of Raw Soft-Shelled Turtle Meat in Korea

  • Jeong, Joon Taek (Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine) ;
  • Seo, Min (Department of Parasitology, Dankook University College of Medicine) ;
  • Hong, Sung-Tae (Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Young Keun (Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2014.09.18
  • Accepted : 2015.03.14
  • Published : 2015.04.30
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Abstract

Trichinellosis transmission to humans via the consumption of reptile meat is rare worldwide. In Korea, however, 2 such outbreaks, possibly via consumption of soft-shelled turtle meat, have occurred in 2 successive years. In 17 August 2014, 6 patients were admitted to Wonju Severance Christian Hospital complaining of myalgia, fever, and headache. Eosinophilia was the indication of the initial laboratory results, and they were eventually diagnosed as trichinellosis by ELISA. All of the patients worked at the same company and had eaten raw soft-shelled turtle meat at a company dinner 10 days prior to their admission. They were treated with albendazole for 2 weeks, upon which all of their symptoms disappeared. This is the 8th report on human trichinellosis in Korea, and the second implicating raw soft-shelled turtle meat.

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References

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