Bear meat trichinosis. Epidemiologic, serologic, and clinical observations from two Alaskan outbreaks
Clark, P.S.; Brownsberger, K.M.; Saslow, A.R.; Kagan, I.G.; Noble, G.R.; Maynard, J.E.
Annals of Internal Medicine 76(6): 951-956
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-4819 PMID: 5063661 Document Number: 51096
Of 30 persons who ate infected bear meat in Anchorage, Alaska, in July/August 1968, 3 developed clinical trichinelliasis and 2 showed serological evidence of subclinical infection. Thiabendazole treatment caused remission of symptoms. Viable larvae were observed in the bear meat after 81 days storage at -18 deg C, indicating that heat, not cold, inactivation may be necessary to prevent acquisition of trichinelliasis from Arctic bears. The charcoal-card flocculation test was shown to be a sensitive indicator of infection both in these cases and in sera from 15 persons infected 9 years previously.