Trichinosis

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Abstract
Trichinosis is usually a sporadic disease presenting a severe clinical picture. This paper describes an outbreak in a hospital population in Ohio. There were 45 definite cases with at least a fourfold rise in titer to the Suessenguth-Kline flocculation test and a typical clinical picture. An additional 15 individuals were considered possible cases on the basis of clinical findings, skin test or eosinophilia. The usual syndrome consisted of myalgia, periorbital edema headache, fever and gastrointestinal upset. The mean incubation period was 22.7 days and the mean duration of illness was 8.9 days. The most valuable laboratory tool in this outbreak was the flocculation test, followed by eosinophil count. The skin test was of the least value. The most probable source of infection was ham salad prepared from ground, smoked ham. Investigation revealed the ham was probably heated to a sufficient temperature to kill any trichina present but it was then contaminated with raw pork during the grinding process.

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