There are numerous severe bacterial and parasitic infections going
around from eating under-cooked meat that can become life-threatening.
Many of these meat infections will put you into the hospital or even
take your life, yet all of these are easily avoided.
Here is a article about under-cooked meat from a USDA website:
Parasites and Foodborne Illness
Introduction
Giardia duodenalis or intestinalis
Cryptosporidium parvum
Cyclospora cayetanensis
Toxoplasma gondii
Trichinella spiralis
Taenia saginata/Taenia solium (Tapeworms)
Parasites may be present in food or in water and can be identified as
causes of foodborne or waterborne illness in the United States. They
range in size, from tiny single-celled organisms to worms visible to
the naked eye. Their lifecycle may also vary. While some parasites use
a permanent host, others go through a series of developmental phases
using different animal or human hosts. The illnesses they can cause
range from mild discomfort to debilitating illness and possibly death.
What are parasites?
Parasites are organisms that derive nourishment and protection from
other living organisms known as hosts. They may be transmitted from
animals to humans, from humans to humans, or from humans to animals.
Several parasites have emerged as significant causes of foodborne and
waterborne illness. These organisms live and reproduce within the tissues
and organs of infected human and animal hosts, and are often excreted
in feces.
How are they transmitted?
They may be transmitted from host to host through consumption of contaminated
food and water, or by putting anything into your mouth that has touched
the stool (feces) of an infected person or animal.
How do they vary?
Parasites are of different types and range in size from tiny, single-celled,
microscopic organisms ( protozoa) to larger, multi-cellular worms (
helminths) that may be seen without a microscope. The size ranges from
1 to 2 µm (micrometers) to 2 meters long.
What are some common parasites?
Some common parasites are Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium parvum,
Cyclospora cayetanensis, Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spiralis, Taenia
saginata (beef tapeworm), and Taenia solium (pork tapeworm).
Giardia duodenalis or intestinalis (formerly called G. lamblia)
Giardia duodenalis, cause of giardiasis (GEE-are-DYE-uh-sis), is a one-celled,
microscopic parasite that can live in the intestines of animals and
people. It is found in every region throughout the world and has become
recognized as one of the most common causes of waterborne (and occasionally
foodborne) illness in the United States.
How do people get giardiasis?
People get giardiasis the following ways:
Giardiasis is frequently associated with drinking contaminated water,
but some people might get infected by consuming uncooked meat also contaminated
with G. duodenalis cysts (the infective stage of the organism).
By putting anything into your mouth that has touched contaminated surfaces
or the stool of a person or animal with giardiasis.
Symptoms of giardiasis
Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, gas, and nausea are the most common symptoms.
Chronic infection might lead to dehydration and severe weight loss.
Some cases may be without symptoms.
When will symptoms appear? What is the duration?
Symptoms will usually appear 1 to 2 weeks after ingestion of a G. duodenalis
cyst. They may last 2 to 6 weeks in otherwise healthy persons, but there
are cases of chronic illnesses lasting months or even years.
Who is at risk for contracting giardiasis?
Those at risk include:
Day care providers and children attending daycare centers;
International travelers (traveler's diarrhea);
Hikers, campers, or any other persons who may drink from untreated or
contaminated water supplies, including while swimming in lakes or rivers;
and
Young children, pregnant women, older adults, and persons with weakened
immune systems, including those with HIV/AIDS infection, cancer, diabetes,
kidney disease, and transplant patients, or those individuals undergoing
chemotherapy.
How to prevent giardiasis
Wash hands with warm water and soap before handling foods and eating,
and after going to the bathroom, changing diapers, and handling animals.
Make sure infected individuals wash their hands frequently to reduce
the spread of infection.
Drink water only from treated municipal water supplies.
When hiking, camping, or traveling to countries where the water supply
may be unsafe to drink, either avoid drinking the water or boil it for
1 minute to kill the parasite. Drinking bottled beverages can be a safe
alternative.
Do not swallow water while swimming.
Do not swim in community pools if you or your child has giardiasis.
Always cook your food to a safe internal temperature. Safe temperatures
can be found at: www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/index.asp
Drink only pasteurized milk, juices, or cider.
Wash, peel, or cook raw fruits and vegetables before eating.
Do not use untreated manure to fertilize fruits and vegetables. Watering
untreated manure can spread the organism.
Cryptosporidium parvum
Cryptosporidium parvum, cause of the disease cryptosporidiosis (KRIP-toe-spo-RID-e-O-sis)
also called "Crypto", is a one-celled, microscopic shelled parasite
and a significant cause of waterborne and foodborne illness worldwide.
It is found in the intestines of many herd animals including cows, sheep,
goats, deer, and elk. The illness could be intestinal, tracheal, or
pulmonary.
How do people get cryptosporidiosis?
This parasite can be found in soil, food, water or surfaces that have
been contaminated with feces from infected humans or animals.
People get cryptosporidiosis the following ways:
By consuming food or water contaminated with C. parvum oocysts (infective
stage of the parasite). The oocysts are the environmentally resistant
stage of the organism and are shed in the feces of a host (human or
animal).
By putting anything into your mouth that has touched the stool of a
person or animal with cryptosporidiosis.
Symptoms of intestinal cryptosporidiosis
Symptoms include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, upset stomach, and
slight fever. Some cases may be without symptoms.
When will symptoms appear? What is the duration?
Symptoms appear 2 to 10 days after ingestion of C. parvum oocysts. The
illness usually goes away without medical intervention in 3 to 4 days.
For healthy people, symptoms may last up to 2 weeks. For individuals
with weakened immune systems, cryptosporidiosis can be serious, long-lasting,
and sometimes fatal.
Who is at risk for contracting cryptosporidiosis?
Those at risk include:
Day care providers and children attending daycare centers;
Young children, pregnant women, older adults, and persons with weakened
immune systems, including those with HIV/AIDS infection, cancer, diabetes,
kidney disease, and transplant patients, or those individuals undergoing
chemotherapy.
International travelers (traveler's diarrhea); and
Hikers, campers, or any other persons who may drink from untreated water
supplies.
How to prevent cryptosporidiosis
Wash hands with warm water and soap before handling foods and eating,
and after going to the bathroom, changing diapers, and handling animals.
Drink water only from treated municipal water supplies.
When hiking, camping, or traveling to countries where the water supply
may be unsafe to drink, either avoid drinking the water or boil it for
1 minute to kill the parasite. Drinking bottled beverages can be a safe
alternative.
Do not swallow water while swimming.
Do not swim in community swimming pools if you or your child has cryptosporidiosis.
Drink only pasteurized milk, juices, or cider.
Wash, peel, or cook raw fruits and vegetables before eating.
Do not use untreated manure to fertilize fruits and vegetables. Watering
untreated manure can spread the organism.
Cyclospora cayetanensis
Cyclospora cayetanensis (SIGH-clo-SPOR-uh KYE-uh-tuh-NEN-sis), cause
of cyclosporiasis, is a one-celled, microscopic parasite. Currently
little is known about this organism, although cases of cyclosporiasis
are being reported from various countries with increasing frequency.
How do people get cyclosporiasis?
People get cyclosporiasis the following ways:
By consuming food or water contaminated with C. cayetanensis oocysts
(the infective stage of the organism).
By putting anything into your mouth that has touched the stool of a
person or animal with cyclosporiasis.
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis
Symptoms include watery diarrhea (sometimes explosive), loss of appetite,
bloating, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, low-grade
fever, and fatigue. Some cases are without symptoms. Symptoms are more
severe in persons with weakened immune systems.
When will symptoms appear? What is the duration?
Symptoms typically appear about 1 week after ingestion of C. cayetanensis
oocysts. If untreated, the symptoms may last a week to more than a month.
Symptoms may return.
Who is at risk for contracting cyclosporiasis?
Persons of all ages are at risk for infection.
Young children, pregnant women, older adults, and persons with weakened
immune systems including those with HIV/AIDS infection, cancer, diabetes,
kidney disease, and transplant patients, or those individuals undergoing
chemotherapy may be at greater risk for infection.
How to prevent cyclosporiasis
Wash hands with warm water and soap before handling foods and eating,
and after going to the bathroom, changing diapers, and handling animals.
Make sure infected individuals wash their hands frequently to reduce
the spread of infection.
Drink water only from treated municipal water supplies.
When hiking, camping, or traveling to countries where the water supply
may be unsafe to drink, either avoid drinking the water or boil the
water for 1 minute to kill the parasite. Drinking bottled beverages
can be a safe alternative.
Do not swim in community swimming pools if you or your child has cyclosporiasis.
Wash, peel, or cook raw fruits and vegetables before eating.
Toxoplasma gondii
Toxoplasma gondii, cause of the disease toxoplasmosis (TOX-o-plaz-MO-sis),
is a single-celled, microscopic parasite found throughout the world.
It is the third leading cause of death from foodborne disease. It is
interesting to note that these organisms can only carry out their reproductive
cycle within members of the cat family. In this parasite-host relationship,
the cat is the definitive host. The infective stage (oocyst) develops
in the gut of the cat. The oocysts are then shed into the environment
with cat feces.
How do people get toxoplasmosis?
People get toxoplasmosis the following ways:
By consuming foods (such as raw or undercooked meats, especially pork,
lamb, or wild game) or drinking untreated water (from rivers or ponds)
that may contain the parasite.
Fecal-oral: Touching your hands to your mouth after gardening, handling
cats, cleaning a cat's litter box, or anything that has come into contact
with cat feces.
Mother-to-fetus (if mother is pregnant when first infected with T. gondii).
Through organ transplants or blood transfusions, although these modes
are rare.
Symptoms of toxoplasmosis and severe toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is relatively harmless to most people, although some may
develop "flu-like" symptoms such as swollen lymph glands and/or muscle
aches and pains. In otherwise healthy individuals, the disease is usually
mild and goes away without medical treatment. However, dormant non-infective
parasites can remain in the infected individual for life. An unborn
child may contract the parasite congenitally resulting in severe outcomes
including miscarriage or stillbirth.
However, persons with weakened immune systems such as those with HIV/AIDS
infection, organ transplant recipients, individuals undergoing chemotherapy,
and infants may develop severe toxoplasmosis. Severe toxoplasmosis may
result in damage to the eyes or brain. Infants becoming infected before
birth can be born retarded or with other mental or physical problems.
When will symptoms appear? What is the duration?
The time that symptoms appear varies, but generally symptoms will appear
1 week to 1 month after consuming the parasite.
Infants infected while still in the womb may show no symptoms at birth,
but develop symptoms later in life.
The duration of the illness depends on the health and immune status
of the host. Persons with weakened immune systems may experience illnesses
of long duration, possibly resulting in death.
Who is at risk for contracting severe toxoplasmosis?
Those at risk include:
Persons with weakened immune systems including those with HIV/AIDS infection,
organ transplant recipients, or those individuals undergoing chemotherapy.
Infants born to mothers who become infected with T. gondii shortly before
becoming pregnant or during pregnancy. Those mothers exposed to T. gondii
longer than 6 months before becoming pregnant rarely transmit toxoplasmosis
to their infants.
How to prevent toxoplasmosis
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or if you have a
weakened immune system, you should discuss your risk of contracting
toxoplasmosis with your health care provider.
Wear clean latex gloves when handling raw meats, or have someone who
is healthy, and not pregnant, handle the meats for you.
Cook all raw beef, pork, lamb and veal steaks, chops, and roasts to
a minimum internal temperature of 145 °F as measured with a food thermometer
before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow
meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming.
For reasons of personal preference, consumers may choose to cook meat
to higher temperatures.
Cook all raw ground beef, pork, lamb, and veal to an internal temperature
of 160 °F as measured with a food thermometer.
Cook all poultry to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F as
measured with a food thermometer.
Wash hands, cutting boards, and other utensils thoroughly with hot,
soapy water after handling raw meats.
Clean cat litter boxes daily because cat feces more than a day old can
contain mature parasites.
Wash hands thoroughly with warm water and soap after handling cats,
cleaning cat litter boxes, especially before you handle or eat food.
Wear gloves when you handle garden soil or sandboxes. Cats may use gardens
or sandboxes as litter boxes. (Cover sandboxes to prevent cats from
using them as litter boxes.)
Help prevent cats from becoming infected with T. gondii by discouraging
them from hunting and scavenging.
Feed cats commercially made cat foods or cook their food.
Trichinella spiralis
Trichinella spiralis, cause of trichinellosis (also known as trichinosis)
(TRICK-a-NO-sis) is an intestinal roundworm whose larvae may migrate
from the digestive tract and form cysts in various muscles of the body.
Infections occur worldwide, but are most prevalent in regions where
pork or wild game is consumed raw or undercooked. The incidence of trichinosis
has declined in the United States due to changes in hog feeding practices.
Presently, most cases in this country are caused by consumption of raw
or undercooked wild game.
How do people get trichinellosis?
People get trichinellosis (trichinosis) by consuming raw or undercooked
meats such as pork, wild boar, bear, bobcat, cougar, fox, wolf, dog,
horse, seal, or walrus infected with Trichinella larvae.
The illness is not spread directly from person to person.
Symptoms of trichinellosis
The first symptoms are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, fatigue, and
abdominal pain, followed by headaches, eye swelling, aching joints and
muscles, weakness, and itchy skin. In severe infections, persons may
experience difficulty with coordination and have heart and breathing
problems. Death may occur in severe cases.
When will symptoms appear? What is the duration?
Abdominal symptoms may appear within 1 to 2 days after eating contaminated
meat. Further symptoms (eye swelling and aching muscles and joints)
may begin 2 to 8 weeks after infection. Mild cases may assumed to be
flu. Symptoms may last for months.
Who is at risk for contracting trichinellosis?
Persons consuming raw or under cooked pork or wild game.
Persons with weakened immune systems including those with HIV/AIDS infection,
organ transplant recipients, or those individuals undergoing chemotherapy
may be at a greater risk for infection.
How to prevent trichinellosis
Wash your hands with warm water and soap after handling raw meat.
Cook all raw pork steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temperature
of 145 °F as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from
the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least
three minutes before carving or consuming. For reasons of personal preference,
consumers may choose to cook meat to higher temperatures.
Clean meat grinders thoroughly each time you grind meat at home.
Taenia saginata/Taenia solium (Tapeworms)
Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm) and Taenia solium (pork tapeworm) are
parasitic worms (helminths). Taeniasis is the name of the intestinal
infection caused by adult-stage tapeworms (beef or pork tapeworms).
Cysticercosis is the name of the tissue (other than intestinal) infection
caused by the larval-stage of the pork tapeworm only.
It is interesting to note that humans are the definitive hosts of both
organisms. This means that the reproductive cycle, and thus egg production
by the organisms, occurs only within humans. Eggs are passed in human
feces and they may be shed into the environment for as long as the worms
remain in the intestines (for as long as 30 years). In addition, the
eggs may remain viable in the environment for many months.
These diseases are more prevalent in underdeveloped countries where
sanitation practices may be substandard and in areas where pork and
beef are consumed raw or undercooked. They are relatively uncommon in
the U.S., although travelers and immigrants are occasionally infected.
How do people get Taeniasis?
People get Taeniasis by consuming raw or undercooked infected beef or
pork.
Symptoms of Taeniasis
Most cases of infection with adult worms are without symptoms. Some
persons may experience abdominal pain, weight loss, digestive disturbances,
and possible intestinal obstruction.
Irritation of the peri-anal area can occur, caused by worms or worm
segments exiting the anus.
When will symptoms appear? What is the duration?
T. saginata (beef tapeworm) infections appear within 10 to 14 weeks.
T. solium (pork tapeworm) infections appear within 8 to 12 weeks.
Taeniasis may last many years without medical treatment.
Who is at risk for contracting Taeniasis?
Anyone consuming infected beef or pork (raw or undercooked).
Persons with weakened immune systems including those with HIV/AIDS infection,
organ transplant recipients, or those individuals undergoing chemotherapy
may be at a greater risk for infection.
How to prevent Taeniasis
Cook all raw beef and pork steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal
temperature of 145 °F as measured with a food thermometer before removing
meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest
for at least three minutes before carving or consuming. For reasons
of personal preference, consumers may choose to cook meat to higher
temperatures.
How do people get cysticercosis?
People get cysticercosis the following ways:
By consuming food or water contaminated with the eggs of T. solium (pork
tapeworm). Worm eggs hatch and the larvae then migrate to various parts
of the body and form cysts called cysticerci. This can be a serious
or fatal disease if it involves organs such as the central nervous system,
heart, or eyes.
By putting anything into your mouth that has touched the stool of a
person infected with T. solium.
Some persons with intestinal tapeworms may infect themselves with eggs
from their own feces as a result of poor personal hygiene.
Symptoms of cysticercosis
Symptoms may vary depending on the organ or organ system involved. For
example, in muscles, lumps under the skin may result. Cysticercosis
can cause blurred vision in the eyes. An individual with cysticercosis
involving the central nervous system (neurocysticercosis) may exhibit
neurological symptoms such as psychiatric problems or epileptic seizures.
Death is common.
When will symptoms appear? What is the duration?
Symptoms usually appear from several weeks to several years after becoming
infected with the eggs of the pork tapeworm ( T. solium). Symptoms may
last for many years if medical treatment is not received.
Who is at risk for contracting cysticercosis?
Persons traveling to countries where sanitation may be substandard and
the water supply may be unsafe.
Young children, pregnant women, older adults, and persons with weakened
immune systems including those with HIV/AIDS infection, cancer, diabetes,
kidney disease, and transplant patients, or those individuals undergoing
chemotherapy may be at greater risk for infection.
How to prevent cysticercosis
Drink water only from treated municipal water supplies.
Do not eat undercooked pork or meat.
When traveling to countries where the water supply may be unsafe, either
avoid the water or boil it for 1 minute to kill parasite eggs. Avoid
ice in those same areas. Drinking bottled beverages or hot
coffee and tea are safe alternatives.
Do not swallow water while swimming.
Do not swim in community swimming pools if you or your child are infected
with tapeworms.
Wash, peel, or cook raw fruits and vegetables before eating.
Make sure that infected individuals wash their hands frequently to reduce
the spread of infection
Ted Twietmeyer
Source of text: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/foodborne-illness-and-disease/parasites-and-foodborne-illness/
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