© 2021 C. Nemet et al. This is an open access article licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution- NonCommercial-NoDerivs License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) https://doi.org/10.2478/9788395815065-008 Diagnostic algorithm in human trichinellosis - premise of avoiding complications and chronicity of the disease Codruta NEMET Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania codruta_nemet@yahoo.com Cristina DOBRESCU Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania cristina.dobrescu@ymail.com Angela REPANOVICI Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania arepanovici@unitbv.ro Abstract. Aim of the study: a systematic review of the scientific literature that contains theoretical information about the infection with Trichinella species in humans. The research questions were formulated, the criteria for inclusion and exclusion of the revised studies and the search strategy were established, the studies were selected, the data were extracted and finally the analysis and interpretation of the results was performed, all with the aim to establish a diagnostic algorithm for patients with the suspected trichinellosis. From 312 existing studies, 300 that did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded. The theoretical aspects studied refer to the clinical and laboratory criteria that validate the diagnosis of trichinellosis in humans and focus less on the elements of differential diagnosis, which would facilitate early diagnosis and allow the establishment of specific antiparasitic treatment removing the spectrum of complications or progression to chronicity of the disease. Keywords: systematic review, trichinellosis, scientific literature. Introduction Trichinellosis is a zoonosis that is frequently found in the sylvatic, peridomestic and domestic environment, in animals such as bears, wild boars, foxes, field rats and pigs from households or from small animal farms. The disease is transmitted to humans by eating pork or game meat infected with the Trichinella spiralis parasite, which is incompletely or incorrectly heat-treated (Gottstein et al. 2009). In humans, the disease has a tropism for striated muscles, where the parasite, after a long process of evolution, can survive up to 40 years (Fröscher et al. 1988). Undiagnosed trichinellosis and therefore untreated in a timely manner can progress chronically, socially and professionally incapacitating the patient. Hence the importance of an early diagnosis of human trichinellosis, which will mean the inactivation of the parasite in the circulatory spread phase of the diseases or in the beginning of its encystment (Dupouy-Camet et al. 2007, Gottstein et al. 2009). In humans, the Trichinella spiralis parasite goes through 3 stages from infection to encapsulation. The first enteral phase begins with the ingestion of infected meat. In the stomach of the new host the larvae become free and pass very quickly into the small intestine, where it finds both food and oxygen necessary for their growth and development. The larvae deposited by the females of the parasite spread through the circulatory system, throughout the body, in their migration to the striated muscle. The