Diagnostic Findings [Last Modified: ]
Trichinellosis
[Trichinella britovi] [Trichinella murrelli] [Trichinella nativa] [Trichinella nelsoni] [Trichinella pseudospiralis] [Trichinella spiralis]
Causal Agent Life Cycle Geographic Distribution Clinical Features Laboratory Diagnosis Treatment

Microscopy

Adult Trichinella spp. reside in the intestinal tract of the mammalian host; larvae can be found encapsulated in muscle tissue.  Diagnosis is usually made serologically or based on observation of the larvae in muscle tissue following biopsies or autopsies.

Encysted larvae of Trichinella Encysted larvae of Trichinella
A B

A, B:  Encysted larvae of Trichinella sp. in pressed muscle tissue.  The coiled larvae can be seen inside the cysts.

T. spiralis larvae T. spiralis larvae T. spiralis larvae
C D E

C, D, E:  Trichinella spiralis larvae in muscle tissue.

Trichinella larva, freed from its cyst Trichinella larva, freed from its cyst
F G

F, G:  Trichinella larvae, freed from their cysts in the muscle tissue of an Alaskan bear.

T. spiralis larva in peripheral blood T. spiralis larva in peripheral blood
H I

H, I:  Trichinella spiralis larvae in peripheral blood.

 
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