Trichinella spiralis is a parasitic roundworm that causes the disease trichinosis in humans and other animals. The parasite has a complex life cycle, with an adult female worm living in the small intestine and releasing larvae that migrate and encyst in skeletal muscle tissue. Humans typically become infected by eating undercooked pork infected with the larvae. Symptoms vary depending on the stage of infection, but may include diarrhea, vomiting, muscle pain, and breathing difficulty. Diagnosis involves muscle biopsy or blood tests, and treatment primarily consists of anti-inflammatory drugs and the anti-parasitic drug mebendazole.