Schuppers, M. E.; Frey, Caroline; Gottstein, Bruno; Stärk, K. D. C.; Kihm, U.; Regula, Gertraud (2010). Comparing the demonstration of freedom from Trichinella infection of domestic pigs by traditional and risk-based surveillance. Epidemiology and infection, 138(09), pp. 1242-1251. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 10.1017/S0950268809991518
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Traditionally, the routine artificial digestion test is applied to assess the presence of Trichinella larvae in pigs. However, this diagnostic method has a low sensitivity compared to serological tests. The results from artificial digestion tests in Switzerland were evaluated over a time period of 15 years to determine by when freedom from infection based on these data could be confirmed. Freedom was defined as a 95% probability that the prevalence of infection was below 0.0001%. Freedom was demonstrated after 12 years at the latest. A new risk-based surveillance approach was then developed based on serology. Risk-based surveillance was also assessed over 15 years, starting in 2010. It was shown that by using this design, the sample size could be reduced by at least a factor of 4 when compared with the traditional testing regimen, without lowering the level of confidence in the Trichinella-free status of the pig population.