Pig Out

By

Dee Nicovich, M.S.

Leviticus 11:7-8Leviticus 11:7-8

And the swine (pig), though he divide And the swine (pig), though he divide the hoof, and be cloven footed, ye he the hoof, and be cloven footed, ye he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their you. Of their flesh ye shall not eatflesh ye shall not eat, , and their carcass shall ye not and their carcass shall ye not touchtouch; they are unclean to you.; they are unclean to you.

Trichinella Spiralis

First noted to be pathogenic for humans in 1859 (2), remains a public health problem in the United States. Infection occurs when raw or inadequately cooked meat, most commonly pork, is ingested. Of cases reported during 1975-1981, where an infected meat item was identified,

pork was implicated in 79.1%; wild meat, in 13.9%; and ground beef, in 7.0%. The incriminated

ground beef was believed to have been adulterated by pork products (3).

CDC

Epidemiology Epidemiology Signs and SymptomsSigns and Symptoms

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichinosishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichinosis

Symptoms can be Divided into Two Types: •Symptoms caused by worms in the

intestine.

•Symptoms caused by worms elsewhere

Worms in Intestines Worms in Intestines

In the Intestine, Infection can In the Intestine, Infection can cause:cause:

Nausea HeartburnHeartburn IndigestionIndigestion DiarrheaDiarrhea

As the Worms Encyst in As the Worms Encyst in Different Parts of the Body Different Parts of the Body

HeadachesHeadaches, , feversfevers, , chillschills, , coughcough, eye , eye swelling, aching joints and muscle pains, swelling, aching joints and muscle pains, pinpoint hemorrhages, itchy skin, and pinpoint hemorrhages, itchy skin, and heightened numbers of white blood cells.heightened numbers of white blood cells.

If worms penetrate nervous tissue, they If worms penetrate nervous tissue, they cannot survive, but patients may experience cannot survive, but patients may experience difficulty coordinating movements and difficulty coordinating movements and respiratory paralysis. In severe cases, death respiratory paralysis. In severe cases, death may occur. Heart infection can also cause may occur. Heart infection can also cause death.death.

For Mild to Moderate For Mild to Moderate Infections, Infections, Most

symptoms Subside Within a Few Months..

Sickness - Trichinosis Sickness - Trichinosis

Abdominal symptoms Abdominal symptoms cancan occur 1–2 days occur 1–2 days after infection. after infection.

Further symptoms Further symptoms usuallyusually start 2–8 weeks start 2–8 weeks after eating contaminated meat. after eating contaminated meat.

Symptoms may range from very mild to Symptoms may range from very mild to severe and relate to the severe and relate to the number of number of infectious wormsinfectious worms consumed in meat, and consumed in meat, and the the amount of meatamount of meat consumedconsumed. .

Often, mild cases of Often, mild cases of trichinosis are never trichinosis are never specifically diagnosedspecifically diagnosed and are and are assumed assumed to be the flu or other common illnessesto be the flu or other common illnesses..

When a Person Eats MeatWhen a Person Eats Meat that contains infective that contains infective TrichinellaTrichinella cysts, the cysts, the

acid in the stomach dissolves the hard acid in the stomach dissolves the hard covering of the cyst and covering of the cyst and releases the releases the wormsworms. .

The worms pass into the small intestine and, The worms pass into the small intestine and, in 1–2 days, become mature. in 1–2 days, become mature.

After mating, adult females produce larvae, After mating, adult females produce larvae, which break through the intestinal wall and which break through the intestinal wall and travel through the lymphatic systemtravel through the lymphatic system

to the circulatory systemto the circulatory system to find a suitable to find a suitable cell. cell.

Larvae can penetrate any cell, but can Larvae can penetrate any cell, but can only survive in skeletal muscle. only survive in skeletal muscle.

Within a muscle cell, the worms curl up Within a muscle cell, the worms curl up and direct the cell functioning much as a and direct the cell functioning much as a virus does. virus does.

The cell is now called a The cell is now called a nurse cellnurse cell. Soon, a . Soon, a net of blood vessels surround the nurse net of blood vessels surround the nurse cell, providing added nutrition for the larva cell, providing added nutrition for the larva inside.inside.

Life cycleLife cycle

DiagnosisDiagnosis

A blood test or muscle biopsy can A blood test or muscle biopsy can identify trichinosis. identify trichinosis.

Stool studies can identify adult Stool studies can identify adult worms, with females being about 3 worms, with females being about 3 mm long and males about half that mm long and males about half that size.size.

What’s Eating You?What’s Eating You?

Health and Safety Top Health and Safety Top PriorityPriority

A.A. Better Do too Little than Much.Better Do too Little than Much.B.B. Pain-Signal. STOP!Pain-Signal. STOP!C.C. Work at Your Pace.Work at Your Pace.D.D. Listen to Your Body.Listen to Your Body.E.E. Encourage Classmates.Encourage Classmates.F.F. Beginners go slow.Beginners go slow.G.G. Drink Plenty of Water BDA.Drink Plenty of Water BDA.H.H. Regular Members not feel pain 2 hrs. after.Regular Members not feel pain 2 hrs. after.I.I. Do Not Eat less than One Hour Before Class.Do Not Eat less than One Hour Before Class.J.J. In Shallow Wear Water Shoes.In Shallow Wear Water Shoes.

TreatmentTreatment

SymptomsSymptoms can be treated with can be treated with aspirin and corticosteroids. aspirin and corticosteroids.

Thiabendazole can kill adult worms in Thiabendazole can kill adult worms in the intestine; however, the intestine; however, there is no there is no treatment that kills the treatment that kills the larvae.larvae.

DrDr. . Maurice C. Hall as Chief of the Maurice C. Hall as Chief of the Division of Zoology of the U.S. Division of Zoology of the U.S.

Public Health Service commented:Public Health Service commented:

"It appears to be a legitimate "It appears to be a legitimate demand that, when a man demand that, when a man exchanges dollars for pork, he exchanges dollars for pork, he should not do it on the basis that should not do it on the basis that he may be purchasing his death he may be purchasing his death warrant."warrant."

The daily column "Dr. Lamb" from The daily column "Dr. Lamb" from the Abilene Reporter News, the Abilene Reporter News,

states:states: It has been reported from the It has been reported from the

laboratory of one of our northern laboratory of one of our northern Universities that trichinae-laden swine Universities that trichinae-laden swine flesh was heated to an unbelievably flesh was heated to an unbelievably high temperature and then put under a high temperature and then put under a microscope. microscope. To the amazement of the To the amazement of the technicians, some worms were still technicians, some worms were still alive and moving about.alive and moving about.

The supposition that all of these worms The supposition that all of these worms can be killed in cooking is not to be can be killed in cooking is not to be relied upon.relied upon.

Could it be, since physicians have Could it be, since physicians have confused their diagnosis of trichinosis confused their diagnosis of trichinosis with fifty different ailments, with fifty different ailments, that this that this worm could be the cause of one of the worm could be the cause of one of the greatest killers in America today?greatest killers in America today? An An

article by Carlyle C. Douglas in article by Carlyle C. Douglas in Money's Money's WorthWorth, 1975, reads:, 1975, reads:

Think twice before you eat pork. Think twice before you eat pork. Pigs Pigs kill more Americans every year than kill more Americans every year than traffic accidents, murderers and all traffic accidents, murderers and all other accidents combined.other accidents combined. Even Even wartime enemies have been unable to wartime enemies have been unable to kill as fast as our own docile, domestic kill as fast as our own docile, domestic beast. Guns and bombs have proved beast. Guns and bombs have proved much less effective than the weapons much less effective than the weapons carried by these hoofed and snouted carried by these hoofed and snouted killers. From farms and feedlots, they killers. From farms and feedlots, they stalk us, sniping with pork chops, stalk us, sniping with pork chops, sausages, hamburgers, (yes not all of sausages, hamburgers, (yes not all of them are 100% beef), hog dogs, liver them are 100% beef), hog dogs, liver and bacon. The fatal wounds they inflict and bacon. The fatal wounds they inflict include coronary heart disease, include coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, colonic and rectal arteriosclerosis, colonic and rectal cancer.cancer.

HealthwiseHealthwise, , 8-82, Volume 5, states:8-82, Volume 5, states:

Trichinosis, a parasitic infestation resulting Trichinosis, a parasitic infestation resulting from eating pork is estimated at 150,000 from eating pork is estimated at 150,000 cases in the USA each year. Many cases are cases in the USA each year. Many cases are serious. serious. In some cases trichinae spread In some cases trichinae spread throughout the body even into the brainthroughout the body even into the brain. . When this occurs, victims may experience When this occurs, victims may experience unusual drowsiness, clouded consciousness unusual drowsiness, clouded consciousness convulsive seizures, weakness and in some convulsive seizures, weakness and in some cases, paralysis or coma. Prevention is much cases, paralysis or coma. Prevention is much surer than a cure. surer than a cure. The Journal of the The Journal of the American Medical AssociationAmerican Medical Association points out that points out that even smoked pork sausage can contain live even smoked pork sausage can contain live trichinae cysts.trichinae cysts.

Senator Thomas C. Desmond, who Senator Thomas C. Desmond, who served as chairman of the New York served as chairman of the New York

Trichinosis Commission, stated:Trichinosis Commission, stated:

"Physicians have confused trichinosis "Physicians have confused trichinosis with some fifty ailments ranging from with some fifty ailments ranging from typhoid fever to acute alcoholism. typhoid fever to acute alcoholism.

That pain in your arm or leg may be That pain in your arm or leg may be arthritis or rheumatism, but it may be arthritis or rheumatism, but it may be trichinosis. That pain in your back trichinosis. That pain in your back may mean a gall bladder involvement, may mean a gall bladder involvement, but it may mean trichinosis."but it may mean trichinosis."

They that Sanctify They that Sanctify ThemselvesThemselves

and purify themselves in the gardens and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midest, behind one tree in the midest,

eating eating swine's fleshswine's flesh, , and the abomination, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed and the mouse, shall be consumed

together, saith the Creator.together, saith the Creator. Yeshayah (Isaiah) 66:17Yeshayah (Isaiah) 66:17

The Saturday Evening PostThe Saturday Evening Post,, 7-8-82, ran 7-8-82, ran

an article calledan article called "A "A Parasite Mystery," Parasite Mystery," showing the dangers of pork to mankinshowing the dangers of pork to mankin

Trichinosis is generally diagnosed Trichinosis is generally diagnosed

to be:to be:

Trichinosis is generally believed to be Trichinosis is generally believed to be a rarity. This view, though a rarity. This view, though hallucinated, is not without hallucinated, is not without explanation. Outbreaks of trichinosis explanation. Outbreaks of trichinosis are seldom widely publicized. They are are seldom widely publicized. They are seldom even recognized. Trichinosis is seldom even recognized. Trichinosis is the chameleon of diseases. Nearly all the chameleon of diseases. Nearly all diseases are anonymous at onset, and diseases are anonymous at onset, and many tend to resist identification until many tend to resist identification until their grip is well established, but most their grip is well established, but most can eventually be identified by patient can eventually be identified by patient scrutiny.scrutiny.

Trichinosis is occasionally impervious to bedside Trichinosis is occasionally impervious to bedside detection at any stage.detection at any stage. Even blood counts Even blood counts sometimes inexplicably fail to reveal its presence at sometimes inexplicably fail to reveal its presence at any stage in its development. any stage in its development.

As a diagnostic deadfall, As a diagnostic deadfall, it is practically uniqueit is practically unique. . The number and variety of ailments with which it is The number and variety of ailments with which it is

more or less commonly confused approach the more or less commonly confused approach the encyclopedic. encyclopedic.

They include arthritis, acute alcoholism, conjunctivitis, They include arthritis, acute alcoholism, conjunctivitis, food poisoning, lead poisoning, food poisoning, lead poisoning, heart diseaseheart disease, , laryngitis, mumps, asthma, rheumatism, rheumatic laryngitis, mumps, asthma, rheumatism, rheumatic fever, rheumatic myocarditis, gout, tuberculosis, fever, rheumatic myocarditis, gout, tuberculosis, angioneurotic edema, dermatomyositis, frontal angioneurotic edema, dermatomyositis, frontal sinusitis, influenza, nephritis, peptic ulcer, sinusitis, influenza, nephritis, peptic ulcer, appendicitis, cholecystitis, malaria, scarlet fever, appendicitis, cholecystitis, malaria, scarlet fever, typhoid fever, para-typhoid fever, undulant fever, typhoid fever, para-typhoid fever, undulant fever, encephalitis, gastroenteritis, inter-coastal neuritis, encephalitis, gastroenteritis, inter-coastal neuritis, tetanus, pleurisy, colitis, meningitis, syphilis, typhus tetanus, pleurisy, colitis, meningitis, syphilis, typhus and cholera. It has even been mistaken for beriberi. and cholera. It has even been mistaken for beriberi.

With all the rich inducements to error, With all the rich inducements to error, a sound a sound diagnosis of trichinosis is rarely made, and the diagnosis of trichinosis is rarely made, and the diagnostician cannot always take much credit for it.diagnostician cannot always take much credit for it.

What are the symptoms of What are the symptoms of a trichinellosis infection?a trichinellosis infection?

Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, fever, and abdominal Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, fever, and abdominal discomfort are the first symptoms of trichinellosis. discomfort are the first symptoms of trichinellosis. Headaches, fevers, chills, cough, eye swelling, aching Headaches, fevers, chills, cough, eye swelling, aching joints and muscle pains, itchy skin, diarrhea, or joints and muscle pains, itchy skin, diarrhea, or constipation follow the first symptoms. constipation follow the first symptoms. If the infection is If the infection is heavy, patients may experience difficulty coordinating heavy, patients may experience difficulty coordinating movements, and have heart and breathing problems. In movements, and have heart and breathing problems. In severe cases, death can occur.severe cases, death can occur.

For mild to moderate infections, most symptoms subside For mild to moderate infections, most symptoms subside within a few months. Fatigue, weakness, and diarrhea may within a few months. Fatigue, weakness, and diarrhea may last for months.last for months.

http://www.http://www.cdc.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/trichinosis/factsht_trichinosis.htmgov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/trichinosis/factsht_trichinosis.htm

Is Trichinellosis Common

in the United States? Infection was once very common and usually Infection was once very common and usually

caused by ingestion of undercooked pork. caused by ingestion of undercooked pork. However, infection is now relatively rare. During However, infection is now relatively rare. During 1997-2001, an average of 12 cases per year were 1997-2001, an average of 12 cases per year were reported. The number of cases has decreased reported. The number of cases has decreased because of legislation prohibiting the feeding of because of legislation prohibiting the feeding of raw-meat garbage to hogs, commercial and home raw-meat garbage to hogs, commercial and home freezing of pork, and the public awareness of the freezing of pork, and the public awareness of the danger of eating raw or undercooked pork danger of eating raw or undercooked pork products. products. Cases are less commonly associated Cases are less commonly associated with pork productswith pork products and more often associated with and more often associated with eating raw or undercooked wild game meats. eating raw or undercooked wild game meats.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/trichinosis/http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/trichinosis/factsht_trichinosis.htm#spread_othersfactsht_trichinosis.htm#spread_others

The Trichina worm is deadly. In the The Trichina worm is deadly. In the March 1950 issue of March 1950 issue of Reader's DigestReader's Digest, , Laird S. Goldsborough writes:Laird S. Goldsborough writes:

"In the pork which we Americans eat, "In the pork which we Americans eat, there too often lurk myriads of there too often lurk myriads of baffling and sinister parasites. They baffling and sinister parasites. They are minute spiral worms which are minute spiral worms which scientist call scientist call Trichinella spiralisTrichinella spiralis. .

      A single serving of infected pork, A single serving of infected pork, even a single mouthful, can kill or even a single mouthful, can kill or cripple, or condemn the victim to a cripple, or condemn the victim to a lifetime of aches and pains."lifetime of aches and pains."