(IN): Meat can be fatal: expert

November 10, 2008

Meat can be fatal: expert

* SHILLONG, Nov 9 – Studies have revealed an increase in the number of

infections caused by parasitic worms in the North East region, where meat is

taken by a sizeable section of people.

" Parasitic worms have been detected in the country, particularly in the

North East where meat is a part of the native culinary practice, " president

of the Indian Society of Parasitology Prof Veena Tandon said here recently.

She said studies have revealed that a number of cases of infections caused

by parasitic worms is increasing in the North East since a good chunk of

people take meat as the cheapest source of protein.

In some parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Meghalaya where

people were found to consume crabs, parasitic worms called p.westermani have

been detected that have resulted in 'lungfluke' infections.

These worms, she said, were commonly found in pork, beef and poultry and the

process of cooking was not enough to wipe out these parasites.

" Consumption of pork could lead to formation of tapeworm in the brain, and

people having this problem were found to be suffering from some kind of

epilepsy, " Prof Tandon said.

Tandon was addressing the inaugural session of the three-day 20th National

Congress of Parasitology here.

She said more than 72 species of protozoan and helminth parasites can reach

humans by food and water. " According to WHO estimates, 41 million people are

currently infected with food-borne parasitic worms, while the number of

those at risk exceeds 750 million, " she pointed out.

The inclination for eating meat, fish, crabs, shrimp, molluscs – raw or

undercooked animal-based foods facilitates a number of parasitic worms.

She, however, rued that the status of the prevelance of the diseases, its

host range and possible reservoirs in nature are not well-documented in

India. – PTI

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