Outbreak of Trichinellosis Associated with Eating Cougar Jerky

There has been a decline in the number of human trichinellosis cases associated with consumption of commercial pork in the United States, while the relative importance of trichinellosis from game meats has increased. An investigation of an outbreak of trichinellosis in Idaho occurring after consumption of improperly prepared cougar jerky is described. Ten cases of trichinellosis were identified among 15 persons who ate the implicated meat. Viable Trichinella larvae were recovered from frozen cougar tissue. Polymerase chain reaction on parasite DNA yielded results consistent with genotypes T. nativa and Trichinella type T6. This report of cougar meat as a source of human trichinellosis and the finding of freeze-resistant Trichinella organisms in wildlife in Idaho extends the range of this genotype. Consumers of game need to cook the meat thoroughly, since even frozen meat may harbor viable Trichinella that can cause illness.