Trichinella species

Trichinella species larva, liberated

This is a Trichinella sp. larva that has been liberated from the flesh of an infected animal using enzymatic digestion.

Trichinella species larvae, stained, in muscle sections

These images show encysted Trichinella sp. larvae in hematoxylin & eosin-stained histologic sections of muscle. The accompanying schematic illustrates how a 3-dimensional coiled larva appears when cut in a 5-micrometer tissue section.

Trichinella species larvae, unstained, in muscle squash preparations

These images show multiple Trichinella spp. larvae encysted in muscle. If the larvae are ingested by a suitable carnivore host, then the life cycle is continued.