A hunter developed symptoms after consuming bear meat. The likely causative agent is?

The symptoms experienced by the hunter after consuming bear meat can be attributed to Trichinella spiralis, a parasitic nematode that causes trichinosis. This parasite is commonly associated with the consumption of undercooked or raw meat from infected animals, particularly carnivores like bears and pigs.

When humans ingest larvae present in the meat, the larvae are released in the digestive tract, mature into adult worms, and then reproduce. This process leads to the development of various symptoms, including gastrointestinal distress, muscle pain, and fever, as the larvae migrate into muscle tissues. The life cycle of Trichinella requires that the host (often a carnivore) has ingested meat containing the encysted larvae from another infected animal, which is typically how hunters might become infected.

In this scenario, the connection between consuming bear meat and the development of symptoms strongly points to Trichinella spiralis as the causative agent since it is specifically known for this transmission route, whereas the other options do not fit this particular context of infection from eating bear meat.

Toxoplasma gondii is primarily associated with undercooked pork and cat feces, Taenia solium is linked to pork consumption leading to cysticercosis