Digestive method

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The digestive method is a method of trichinae examination . Here are muscle meat samples digested in a digestive fluid, and both encapsulated and free Trichinella larvae released and then the sediment of the sample microscopically detected. The digestion method is the reference method of the trichinae examination in the European Union . It allows the simultaneous examination of up to 100 samples of 1 g each and is much more sensitive than the microscopic examination of crushed specimens that was common in the past ( trichinelloscopy ). The implementation is regulated in the Implementing Regulation (EC) 2015/1375.

The amount of sample depends on the species and the available test material. If there are diaphragmatic pillars, 1 g per animal is sufficient, as this muscle is a preferred location for the parasite. If only other muscle samples are available, 2 g of pigs and 5 g of pieces of meat and frozen meat are to be tested. At least 10 g of the masticatory muscles , tongue, diaphragm or muscles from the foreleg ( intercostal muscles ) of other animal species must be taken and examined.

As a digestion solution, 16 ml of 25% hydrochloric acid and 2 l of water are heated to 46 to 48 ° C. with a heatable magnetic stirrer and then 10 g of pepsin are added. The meat samples are minced with a mixer and 100 g transferred to the digestive solution. The test material is then digested at 44 to 46 ° C. for at least 30 minutes and the solution is then passed through a sieve with a mesh size of 180 μm into a separating funnel . After 30 minutes of settling time, 40 ml of the liquid are removed and after a further 10 minutes of standing time 30 ml of it are sucked off. The remaining sample liquid is then examined microscopically.

All materials in the investigation are considered potentially contaminated and must be heated to over 80 ° C.

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