Irish game hunters who control vermin have agreed to take part in a survey on the prevalence of the disease trichinosis in wildlife, writes Sean Mac Connell, Agriculture Correspondent.
Trichinosis, a food-borne disease caused by a microscopic parasite, is most commonly found in undercooked pork, but also in horsemeat and wild boar.
Organic production of pigmeat is becoming popular, and this gives rise to the possibility of pigs coming into contact with rats, mice and other wildlife which may be infected.
The fox, which eats these animals, is the target species of choice for trichinosis in wildlife, and serves as an indicator of the level of possible infection of pigs.
Anyone who eats undercooked meat of infected animals can develop the disease. In Ireland, the last recorded cases in man occurred in 1968.
As part of its research into the disease, the Department of Agriculture and Food has asked the National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) for help.
Its 22,000 members, who shoot foxes at this time of year to protect new lambs and pheasants, have been asked to provide fox carcases for research.
According to an NARGC spokesman yesterday, the hunters will be asked to send the fox carcases to the department's scientists.
The foxes will also be examined to determine their age and the prevalence of diseases such as tuberculosis, brucellosis, mange and other parasites.
The research will help Ireland protect its reputation as a producer of quality food - it currently exports 250,000 tonnes of pigmeat yearly. This pork meat is stringently tested for all diseases, including trichinosis, under EU food directives.
Treatment for trichinosis is widely available, but the disease can prove fatal if untreated.