{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,19]],"date-time":"2026-06-19T04:53:21Z","timestamp":1781844801407,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,12]],"date-time":"2026-06-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1781222400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pathogens"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Trichinellosis is an important parasitic zoonosis caused by nematodes of the genus Trichinella, affecting numerous carnivorous and omnivorous mammal species. In Europe, wildlife represents the main reservoir of Trichinella spp., contributing to the maintenance of the sylvatic cycle and acting as a potential source of infection for domestic animals and humans. In Romania, Trichinella spiralis, Trichinella britovi, and Trichinella pseudospiralis have been reported in domestic animals and wildlife, with T. britovi being frequently associated with the sylvatic cycle and wild carnivores. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and molecular characterization of Trichinella larvae isolated from muscle tissues of European badgers (Meles meles) originating from different areas of Romania. Overall, muscle samples collected from 24 European badgers from six Romanian counties were examined using the artificial digestion method. Recovered larvae were subjected to PCR-based species discrimination by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Trichinella larvae were detected in one of the 24 examined European badgers, originating from Arad County, Western Romania. Molecular analysis confirmed the presence of T. britovi, the species most commonly identified in wild carnivores from temperate regions. Although T. britovi has previously been reported in the European badger in Romania in a specimen from Central Romania, the present finding represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first detection of this parasite\u2013host association in Western Romania. The low infection prevalence and the detection of T. britovi in the European badger indicate circulation within the sylvatic cycle and highlight the need for continued wildlife monitoring, given the zoonotic potential of this parasite.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens15060630","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,16]],"date-time":"2026-06-16T05:46:28Z","timestamp":1781588788000},"page":"630","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The European Badger (Meles meles) as an Indicator Host of Sylvatic Trichinella britovi Transmission in Western Romania"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Ana-Maria","family":"Marin","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Mihai I\u201d, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dan-Cornel","family":"Popovici","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Forestry, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Technologies, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Mihai I\u201d, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria Monica Florina","family":"Moraru","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Mihai I\u201d, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1857-7062","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gianluca","family":"Marucci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites (EURL-P), Unit of Foodborne and Neglected Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanit\u00e0, 00161 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9183-7591","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Adriano","family":"Casulli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites (EURL-P), Unit of Foodborne and Neglected Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanit\u00e0, 00161 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5075-8501","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francesco","family":"Celani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites (EURL-P), Unit of Foodborne and Neglected Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanit\u00e0, 00161 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8814-1013","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sorin","family":"Morariu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Mihai I\u201d, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-1888-2597","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anamaria","family":"Plesko","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Mihai I\u201d, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Narcisa","family":"Mederle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Mihai I\u201d, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"171","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2907.2000.00066.x","article-title":"An analysis and review of models of the sociobiology of the Mustelidae","volume":"30","author":"Johnson","year":"2000","journal-title":"Mammal Rev."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Cotta, V., Bodea, M., and Micu, I. (2001). V\u00e2natul \u0219i V\u00e2n\u0103toarea \u00een Rom\u00e2nia, Editura Ceres."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Koepfli, K.P., Deere, K.A., Slater, G.J., Begg, C., Begg, K., Grassman, L., Lucherini, M., Veron, G., and Wayne, R.K. (2008). Multigene phylogeny of the Mustelidae: Resolving relationships, tempo and biogeographic history of a mammalian adaptive radiation. BMC Biol., 6.","DOI":"10.1186\/1741-7007-6-10"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"983","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpara.2013.05.010","article-title":"New pieces of the Trichinella puzzle","volume":"43","author":"Pozio","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2016.03.021","article-title":"Trichinella pseudospiralis, an elusive nematode","volume":"231","author":"Pozio","year":"2016","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"367","DOI":"10.1016\/S0065-308X(06)63005-4","article-title":"Systematics and epidemiology of Trichinella","volume":"63","author":"Pozio","year":"2006","journal-title":"Adv. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpara.2008.06.006","article-title":"Hosts and habitats of Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella britovi in Europe","volume":"39","author":"Pozio","year":"2009","journal-title":"Int. J. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Veronesi, F., Deak, G., and Diakou, A. (2023). Wild mesocarnivores as reservoirs of endoparasites causing important zoonoses and emerging bridging infections across Europe. Pathogens, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens12020178"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1016\/S0169-4758(97)01165-4","article-title":"Trichinellosis in the European Union: Epidemiology, ecology and economic impact","volume":"14","author":"Pozio","year":"1998","journal-title":"Parasitol. Today"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e00178","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fawpar.2022.e00178","article-title":"A review of Trichinella species infection in wild animals in Romania","volume":"27\u201328","author":"Gherman","year":"2022","journal-title":"Food Waterborne Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"257","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2015.07.021","article-title":"New insights into the molecular epidemiology of Trichinella infection in domestic pigs, wild boars, and bears in Romania","volume":"212","author":"Nicorescu","year":"2015","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"218","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2008.10.034","article-title":"Trichinella species circulating among wild and domestic animals in Romania","volume":"159","author":"Blaga","year":"2009","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109301","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2020.109301","article-title":"The European badger, Meles meles, as a new host for Trichinella britovi in Romania","volume":"288","author":"Boros","year":"2020","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"323","DOI":"10.2478\/helm-2021-0032","article-title":"Trichinella spp. infection in European polecats (Mustela putorius Linnaeus, 1758) from Romania","volume":"58","author":"Boros","year":"2021","journal-title":"Helminthologia"},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"85","article-title":"Molecular characterization of Trichinella britovi in lynx (Lynx lynx L.) from Bihor County, Romania: A case report","volume":"33","author":"Marin","year":"2023","journal-title":"Rev. Rom. Med. Vet."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Marin, A.M., Mederle, O.A., Marucci, G., Popovici, D.C., and Mederle, N. (2023). First identification and molecular characterization of Trichinella britovi (Nematoda: Trichinellidae) from the pine marten (Martes martes Linnaeus, 1758) in Romania. Microorganisms, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms11092339"},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"388","article-title":"Updates on Trichinella species infection in wild boar (Sus scrofa) from Southern Romania","volume":"28","author":"Marin","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Agroaliment. Process. Technol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Marin, A.M., Popovici, D.C., D\u0103r\u0103bu\u0219, G., Marian, C., Ni\u021bu\u0219c\u0103, D., and Mederle, N. (2023). The first identification of Trichinella britovi in the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Romania. Pathogens, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens12091132"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Marin, A.M., Popovici, D.C., Marucci, G., Cherchi, S., and Mederle, N. (2023). First identification of Trichinella pseudospiralis in a golden jackal (Canis aureus) in Romania. Pathogens, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens13010032"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bali\u0107, D., Krajina, M., Marucci, G., Tartarelli, I., Krajina, H., and Stupar, L. (2026). First detection of Trichinella pseudospiralis in the genus Martes within a Croatian mustelid survey. Animals, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani16040603"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"118","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2016.04.012","article-title":"High prevalence of Trichinella spp. in sylvatic carnivore mammals of Latvia","volume":"231","author":"Deksne","year":"2016","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S86","DOI":"10.1051\/parasite\/200108s2086","article-title":"Epidemiological studies on animal and human trichinellosis in Estonia","volume":"8","author":"Miller","year":"2001","journal-title":"Parasite"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"K\u00e4rssin, A., H\u00e4kkinen, L., Vilem, A., Jokelainen, P., and Lassen, B. (2021). Trichinella spp. in wild boars (Sus scrofa), brown bears (Ursus arctos), Eurasian lynxes (Lynx lynx) and badgers (Meles meles) in Estonia, 2007\u20132014. Animals, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani11010183"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.1556\/004.2019.004","article-title":"Trichinella spp. in wild mesocarnivores in an endemic setting","volume":"67","author":"Klun","year":"2019","journal-title":"Acta Vet. Hung."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"402","DOI":"10.2478\/s11686-012-0054-1","article-title":"Molecular identification of Trichinella britovi in martens (Martes martes) and badgers (Meles meles): New host records in Poland","volume":"57","author":"Moskwa","year":"2012","journal-title":"Acta Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Omeragi\u0107, J., Kapo, N., \u0160kapur, V., Marucci, G., Lelo, S., Pozio, E., Hod\u017ei\u0107, A., Kova\u010devi\u0107, Z., Proki\u0107, V., and Goleti\u0107, \u0160. (2024). Diversity of Trichinella species in carnivores from Bosnia and Herzegovina. BMC Vet. Res., 20.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12917-024-03964-6"},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests (2026, January 16). Order No. 2847\/24.11.2022 Regarding Studies for the Evaluation of Game Fauna Species in Romania. Available online: https:\/\/mmediu.ro\/domenii\/mediu\/management-cinegetic\/."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"(2023). Microbiology of the Food Chain\u2014Detection of Trichinella Larvae in Meat by Artificial Digestion Method\u2014Amendment 1 (Standard No. ISO 18743:2015\/Amd 1:2023)."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e00033","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fawpar.2018.e00033","article-title":"International Commission on Trichinellosis: Recommendations for genotyping Trichinella muscle stage larvae","volume":"15","author":"Pozio","year":"2019","journal-title":"Food Waterborne Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Liu, D. (2010). \n            \n              Trichinella\n            \n          . Molecular Detection of Foodborne Pathogens, CRC Press.","DOI":"10.1201\/9781420076448"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1859","DOI":"10.1016\/S0020-7519(99)00107-1","article-title":"A multiplex PCR for unequivocal differentiation of all encapsulated and non-encapsulated genotypes of Trichinella","volume":"29","author":"Zarlenga","year":"1999","journal-title":"Int. J. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_32","first-page":"65","article-title":"A large-scale outbreak of trichinellosis due to Trichinella britovi in Turkey","volume":"55","author":"Akkoc","year":"2008","journal-title":"Zoonoses Public Health"},{"key":"ref_33","first-page":"17","article-title":"Epidemiology and control prospects of foodborne parasitic zoonoses in the European Union","volume":"50","author":"Pozio","year":"2008","journal-title":"Parassitologia"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"232","DOI":"10.2478\/s11686-011-0022-1","article-title":"First report of Trichinella britovi in Serbia","volume":"56","author":"Cvetkovic","year":"2011","journal-title":"Acta Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.17236\/sat00338","article-title":"The golden jackal (Canis aureus): A new host for Echinococcus multilocularis and Trichinella britovi in Switzerland","volume":"164","author":"Frey","year":"2022","journal-title":"Schweiz. Arch. Tierheilkd."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"222","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2008.10.040","article-title":"Prevalence of Trichinella spp. in North Spain wild fauna and new variety of Trichinella britovi identification","volume":"159","year":"2009","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"609","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-017-2571-0","article-title":"Trichinella spp. biomass has increased in raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Estonia","volume":"10","author":"Niin","year":"2017","journal-title":"Parasites Vectors"},{"key":"ref_38","first-page":"247","article-title":"First report of Trichinella britovi infection in the wild boar of Aosta Valley","volume":"48","author":"Orusa","year":"2002","journal-title":"Z. Jagdwiss."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3171","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-015-4557-1","article-title":"New finding of Trichinella britovi in a European beaver (Castor fiber) in Latvia","volume":"114","author":"Bakasejevs","year":"2015","journal-title":"Parasitol. Res."},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"Roper, T.J. (2010). Badger, Collins."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1645\/GE-2202.1","article-title":"Sylvatic Trichinella spp. infection in Finland","volume":"96","author":"Airas","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"431","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-005-1481-9","article-title":"Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) cannibalistic behaviour and the prevalence of Trichinella britovi in NW Italian Alps","volume":"97","author":"Remonti","year":"2005","journal-title":"Parasitol. Res."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"259","DOI":"10.1007\/s004360000316","article-title":"Helminth parasites of the Eurasian badger (Meles meles L.) in Spain: A biogeographic approach","volume":"87","author":"Torres","year":"2001","journal-title":"Parasitol. Res."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1840","DOI":"10.14202\/vetworld.2023.1840-1848","article-title":"Trichinellosis dissemination among wild carnivores in the Republic of Kazakhstan: A 10-year study","volume":"16","author":"Akibekov","year":"2023","journal-title":"Vet. World"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.2478\/helm-2020-0032","article-title":"Seroprevalance of Trichinella spp. in wild boars (Sus scrofa) from Bihor county, western Romania","volume":"57","author":"Boros","year":"2020","journal-title":"Helmintologia"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e33","DOI":"10.1017\/S0022149X19000075","article-title":"Human trichinellosis caused by Trichinella britovi in Greece, and literature review","volume":"94","author":"Dimzas","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Helminthol."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e20","DOI":"10.1017\/S0950268823000109","article-title":"Trichinella infection in Serbia from 2011 to 2020: A success story in the field of One Health","volume":"151","author":"Vasilev","year":"2023","journal-title":"Epidemiol. Infect."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"361","DOI":"10.26444\/aaem\/125194","article-title":"Trichinellosis in Slovakia\u2014Epidemiological situation in humans and animals (2009\u20132018)","volume":"27","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ann. Agric. Environ. Med."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102308","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tmaid.2022.102308","article-title":"Trichinella britovi outbreak in Piedmont, North-West Italy, 2019\u20132020: Clinical and epidemiological insights in the One Health perspective","volume":"47","author":"Stroffolini","year":"2022","journal-title":"Travel Med. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1051\/parasite\/2023017","article-title":"A Trichinella britovi outbreak in the Northern Alps of France: Investigation by a local survey network","volume":"30","author":"Peju","year":"2023","journal-title":"Parasite"},{"key":"ref_51","first-page":"E0703151","article-title":"Outbreak of trichinellosis in Spain and Sweden due to consumption of wild boar meat contaminated with Trichinella britovi","volume":"12","author":"Gallardo","year":"2007","journal-title":"Euro Surveill."},{"key":"ref_52","first-page":"e201902005","article-title":"Trichinellosis outbreaks in Arag\u00f3n (1998\u20132017)","volume":"93","author":"Belanche","year":"2019","journal-title":"Rev. Esp. Salud Publica"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.1111\/zph.12800","article-title":"Trichinella britovi infection in wild boar in Portugal","volume":"68","author":"Fernandes","year":"2021","journal-title":"Zoonoses Public Health"},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"931","DOI":"10.1089\/vbz.2009.0057","article-title":"Evidence of Trichinella spiralis in Timi\u0219 County, Romania: A report of a winter trichinellosis outbreak in 2008 due to consumption of contaminated pork","volume":"10","author":"Neghina","year":"2010","journal-title":"Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis."}],"container-title":["Pathogens"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-0817\/15\/6\/630\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,19]],"date-time":"2026-06-19T04:31:16Z","timestamp":1781843476000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-0817\/15\/6\/630"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,12]]},"references-count":54,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6]]}},"alternative-id":["pathogens15060630"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/pathogens15060630","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-0817"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-0817","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,12]]}}}