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A Major Trichinellosis Outbreak Suggesting a High Endemicity of Trichinella Infection in Northern Laos

Trichinellosis is an important and under-recognized food-borne zoonosis in Southeast Asia. After 30 years of no reports, a small outbreak was described in Central Lao PDR (Laos) in 2003. Here we report a large outbreak of at least 650 estimated patients in Udomxay (northern Laos) in June 2005. Trichinella ELISA assays on serum from 133 patients and Western blot assays on 16 patients were positive in 67.6% and 81.2%, respectively. No deaths were recorded. Consumption of uncooked or fermented pork at funeral and wedding ceremonies was the main source of infection. Larvae of Trichinella spiralis were found in 1 of 11 local pigs not involved in this outbreak. The results suggest that trichinellosis may be an under-recognized but important endemic disease in Laos and reinforces the need to urgently implement veterinary and educational programs.

Received June 6, 2007. Accepted for publication September 21, 2007.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank the staff of Oudamxay Provincial Health and Veterinarian Department: Bouchanh Sengsioulivanh, Kampan Sennavong, Chanseng Phanthouanmat, Moya Yang Soyoth, NCRT staff, and IFMT staff. The authors thank Bounthaphany Bounxouei (Mahosot Hospital), Nadia Grégoire-Delanos (NCRT), Edouardo Pozio (Trichinella International Reference Center, Rome), Rattanaphone Phetsouvanh, and Stuart Blacksell (Wellcome Trust-Mahosot Hospital-Oxford University Tropical Medicine Research Collaboration) for useful information and advice. The authors thank Wanpen Chaicumpa, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Bangkok, for performing the initial sample essays. We gratefully thank the authorities of the Provincial Department of Health, Provincial Epidemiology Centre, and the Provincial Hospital, as well as the population of the involved villages.

Financial support: This study was funded by the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie and Coopération pour la Recherche Universitaire et Scientifique (CORUS Project 02-811-052), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France. PN is supported by the Wellcome Trust (UK).

^* Address correspondence to Hubert Barennes, BP 9519, Vientiane, France. E-mail: Hubert.barennes{at}auf.org

Authors’ addresses: Hubert Barennes, Sitthivone Hongsakhone, Phengta Vongphrachanh, Bertrand Martinez-Aussel, and Michel Strobel, Michel.strobel{at}auf.org., Institut Francophone pour la Médecine Tropicale, IFMT BP 9519, Vientiane Lao PDR, Telephone: 856-21-21-93-46, Fax: 856-21-21-93-47, E-mails: hubert.barennes{at}auf.org, bma3008{at}gmail.com, and Michel.strobel{at}auf.org. Somphou Sayasone and Peter Odermatt, Swiss Tropical Institute, Basel, Switzerland, E-mails: somphou.sayasone{at}unibas.ch and peter.odermatt{at}unibas.ch. Aymeric Debruyne and Jean Dupouy-Camet, Hôpital Cochin /Université R. Descartes 27 Fbrg St Jacques, 75014, Paris, France, Phone: 33 1 584 12 251, Fax: 33 1 584 12 245, E-mails: a.debruyne{at}biorance.com and jean.dupouy-camet{at}cch.ap-hopparis.fr. Paul Newton, Mahosot Hospital, Wellcome Trust Collaboration, Laboratory Unit, Vientiane Lao PDR, Phone: 856-20-47188, E-mail: paul{at}tropmedres.ac.

Reprint requests: Hubert Barennes, Institut Francophone pour la Médecine Tropicale, BP 9519, Vientiane Lao PDR, Telephone: 856-21-21-93-46, Fax: 856-21-21-93047, E-mail: hubert.barennes{at}auf.org and barenneshub{at}yahoo.fr.