Isolation and characterization of Trichinella pseudospiralis Garkavi, 1972 from a black vulture (Coragyps atratus).

A nematode from the genus Trichinella was observed in histological sections of breast and tracheal muscles from a black vulture Coragyps atratus from Alabama. Larvae obtained from breast muscle tissue that had been refrigerated for 8 days were infectious for laboratory mice. No nurse cell was observed around larvae in the black vulture or in experimentally infected mice examined 7 or 9 wk postinoculation. The identity of the parasite as Trichinella pseudospiralis was confirmed by DNA hybridization using the species-specific probe, pTsp 5.32. Infectivity trials showed that this isolate was also infective for pigs and chickens. This is the first report of isolation and transmission of T. pseudospiralis from an animal from North America.