Trichinella spiralis Trikinen (The trichina worm)
Zoonotic nematodes I | Superfamily: Trichuroidea | Family: Trichinellidae
Both sexes pointed anteriorly. The anterior part is filled with the stichosome, which is a compact cord of gland-like cells (stichocytes), arranged linearly along the oesophagus. Male (length: 1.5 mm): The stichosome constitutes 50% of the body length. Two posterior papillae, spicules absent. Female (length: 3 mm): Uterus with developing larvae in the middle of the worm and eggs in its posterior end.		Encapsulated larvae in the musculature of the tongue. The larvae are spirally coiled in the capsules.
Final and intermediate hosts (at the same time): Pigs, man + potentially most other mammals. Worldwide distributed; T. spiralis mainly in temperate climatic zones. Human infection related to consumption of raw meat containing infective encapsulated larvae.
Location: Small intestine (adults). Striated muscles (larvae).