[Current trends of the epidemiology of human trichinosis in Chile].

Abstract

Surveillance of the epidemiology of human trichinosis in Chile has been maintained during the last 30 years by the Department of Parasitology. Incidence and prevalence have been followed-up by analysing Ministry of Health annual reports and periodical phototrichinoscopic examination of diaphragm samples from individuals autopsied at the Santiago Medico Legal Service. A decrease has been observed on: incidence from 1.4 per 100,000 in the 1960s to 0.7 in the 1980s down to 0.3 in 1993 and 1994 and to 0.5 in 1995, and prevalence from 3.4% to 2.8%, 2.0% and 0.8% in 1972, 1982, 1992 and 1997 respectively. A predominance of the prevalence in the groups of more age, with the observation of calcified Trichinella spiralis larvae should be indicating a decline of new infections in the general population. This decrease of frequency of human trichinosis in Chile is possible due to the interaction of two main factors, efficacy and higher implementation of control measures and significant advances in porcine technology with a resulting provision to consumers of pork from young animals practically trichinosis free.