ABSTRACT
Background: Human and animal trichinosis has been recorded in Chile since the late XIX century and is irregularly distributed along the country. From high rates of infection in the early 1900, the frequency of this parasitosis in man has progressively decreased. Aim: To describe and discuss the epidemiological situation of trichinosis in Chile during the decade 1991 - 2000. Material and methods: Human infection was assessed using annual incidence and lethality reports provided by the Ministry of Health, periodic photostrichinoscopies in corpses of non selected individuals autopsied at the Medico Legal Service and periodic national serologic surveys. The advise of one of the authors in an epidemic that occurred in 1999 in the VIII Region was also used. Animal infection was assessed using the annual prevalence of infection in pigs slaughtered in abattoirs, furnished by the Ministry of Health. Results: A total of 631 clinical cases with 4 deaths (0.6 percent) was recorded. A decline in the incidence, from 0.7 x 100,000 in 1991 to 0.2 x 100,000 in 2000 was recorded. The higher frequency of the parasitosis was observed in the Metropolitan, VI, VIII and X regions. Although human trichinosis has been observed in all seasons, its frequency increases in close relation with the higher pork consumption in cold seasons (45.8 percent in winter and 37.5 percent in spring). There has been a decrease of infection rates in pigs from 0.17 percento in 1991 to 0.04 percento in 1998 - 2000. Conclusions: The incidence and prevalence of trichinosis shows a constant decline in Chile. Considering the geographical characteristics of Chile, it is possible that an undetermined number of pigs are home reared and butchered without veterinary control, constituting an important source of human trichinosis
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Infant, Newborn , Infant , Child, Preschool , Middle Aged , Trichinellosis , Disease Outbreaks , Trichinella spiralis , Swine , Trichinellosis , Chile , Incidence , Prevalence , Residence Characteristics/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
In Chile swine trichinosis has presented a progressive decreasing in the last two decades of XX century. T. spiralis pig infection descended from an average of 0,683 per 1000 in 1980-1984 to 0,315 in 1985-1989 and to 0,115 in 1990-1996. In the particular case of Metropolitan Region this decreasing has been more marked: from an average of 0,058 per 1000 in 1990-1994 to 0,003 in 1995-1999. Between the end of june 1999 and middle january 2000 in Metropolitan Region abattoirs T. spiralis was detected in 15 (4,9 percent) out of 306 swine from two pigsties located in El Monte (E.M) and Padre Hurtado (P.H) 45 and 30 km south-west from Santiago. In the same period another four pigs from the same premises were found infected in abattoirs of other regions. During inspection visits it was stated that both pig farms had deficient sanitary conditions. Phototrichinoscopy was positive in three out of five rattus norvegicus collected in E.M. In pigsty PH the examination of diaphragm samples of 25 dogs and 17 cats resulted negative. In the premises originating T. spirali infected swine the Metropolitan Environmetal Health Service Abattoirs Program carries out and epidemiological vigilance consisting in the follow-up of animls destined for slaughtering in order to initiate prophylactic actions oriented to eliminate eventual sources of trichinosis infection for human and rearing pigs
Subject(s)
Animals , Swine/parasitology , Trichinellosis/epidemiology , Abattoirs/standards , Meat Products/parasitology , Trichinella spiralis/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
Se presenta una minuciosa revisión de la literatura médica nacional e internacional acerca de la enfermedad de Chagas en la República Mexicana, desde 1939, cuando el Trypanosoma cruzi, agente etiológico de la enfermedad de Chagas, fue reportado por primera vez, la cual ha hecho posible presentar el panorama general sobre esta parasitosis en el país, desde 1939 hasta 1991. Mediante una serie de tablas y figuras se presentan las localidades del país en donde se han encontrado casos humanos, reservorios y vectores de T. cruzi. Se hacen comentarios en relación a los resultados reportados y se señala la importancia de incrementar los estudios sobre la enfermedad de Chagas en México