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Trichinella pseudospiralis is a non-encapsulated species infecting both mammals and birds. In Italy, this species has been reported so far only in central regions (two nocturnal birds of prey, one red fox, and one wild boar) and in northeast regions (four wild boars). In November 2020, Trichinella sp. larvae were isolated by enzymatic digestion from muscle tissues of a red kite (Milvus milvus) specimen belonging to a population residing in the Basilicata region (Southern Italy). The parasite was identified as T. pseudospiralis by multiplex PCR, and the sequencing of the expansion segment V (ESV) region of the nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA showed, in the microsatellite region, the polymorphism characteristic of the Palearctic population. This represents the first record of T. pseudospiralis in a red kite and the first report of this parasite in Southern Italy. The isolation of the parasite in a resident bird confirms that T. pseudospiralis is present, even if at low prevalence, in the Italian avifauna.

Although larvae of the genus Trichinella are the most common parasite species detected in vertebrate muscles using artificial digestion, nematode larvae belonging to other genera are sometimes detected and incorrectly identified as Trichinella. However, it is often very difficult to identify these larvae at the species, genus or family level using microscopy because of the absence of specific morphological characters or cuticle damage, and the only means of identification is PCR and sequencing of specific molecular markers (12S mtDNA; COI; 18S rDNA; and ITS1). From 2008 to 2011, 18 nematode isolates not belonging to the genus Trichinella were collected from different host species. Eleven of these isolates were successfully identified at the species, genus or superfamily level: larvae from two common kestrels, three hooded crows, a hen harrier and a domestic pig were identified as Toxocara cati; larvae from a badger were identified as Toxocara canis; larvae from a domestic pig were identified as a free-living nematode of the genus Panagrolaimus; larvae from a wild boar were identified as belonging to the Metastrongylus genus; and larvae from a rough-legged buzzard were identified as belonging to the superfamily Filarioidea. The recovery of nematodes belonging to genera other than Trichinella during routine meat inspection suggests that the persons performing the analyses need to be informed of the possibility of false positives and that a molecular-based identification system that allows for a rapid and reliable response must be adopted (i.e., a DNA barcoding-like system)., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)