Which disease is most likely after consuming raw or undercooked bear meat?

• A. Tularemia
• B. Trichinosis
• C. Toxoplasmosis
• D. Toxocariasis

Answer: (B)

Eating raw or undercooked bear meat most likely leads to trichinellosis caused by Trichinella spiralis. This parasite forms cysts in the muscles of infected animals, and when meat containing those cysts is eaten, the larvae are released in the gut, mature, and migrate to muscles, causing fever, muscle pain, swelling around the eyes, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms. Wild game like bear meat can harbor these cysts, so thorough cooking is essential to kill them. A safe internal temperature of about 160°F (71°C) throughout the meat is recommended. Freezing isn’t reliably protective for all Trichinella species in wild game, so heat treatment is the key. While other infections can be associated with wild meat or environmental exposure, trichinellosis is the classic and most likely consequence of consuming raw or undercooked bear meat.