Destrucción de los cistecercos en la carne de cerdo parasitada / Destruction of cysticerci in infested pork

ABSTRACT

A study was made of the viability of Cysticercus cellulosae at different temperatures. It was found that the type of casing did not affect survival, but that the parasites remained alive longer in large cuts of meat. Data are given on the survival of cysticerci at various temperatures. The recommended method of destruction, which does not affect the characteristics of the meat, is refrigeration at -20 degrees centigrades for not less than 12 hours. This procedure is more advantageous than frying, the method presently employed, and it can be financially beneficial to the meat industry. Furthermore, if it were compulsory as a prophylactic measure for all pork, it would prevent teniasis and cysticercosis in humans, because it would destroy the parasites in meat which, because it is only slightly infested, passes as wholesome at meat inspections