[Clinical, serological and parasitological aspects of an outbreak of human trichinellosis in Villa Mercedes, San Luis, Argentina. The acute and chronic phases of the infection].
Clinical and serological features of individuals undergoing the acute (n: 54) and chronic (n: 32) phases of trichinellosis belonging to an outbreak originated by the consumption of pork products of a commercial source, arisen in Argentina, are described. Epidemiological data, signs, symptoms, and laboratory studies were assessed. Parasitological studies were performed in patients and pork products. Results showed that: a) the parasite burden of pork products was 200.0 +/- 18.3 larvae/g; b) muscle larvae were demonstrated in 10 out of the 11 patients studied; c) during the acute phase, fever (94%), eosinophilia (90%), myalgia (85%), headache (81%), facial edema (54%), diarrhoea (52%) and anti-Trichinella antibodies (64%) were observed; d) 15% of the patients had to be hospitalized, 7% having complications; e) during the chronic phase, myalgia (72%), sight abnormalities (22%), gastrointestinal disorders (31%) and the persistence of antibodies (77%) were observed. This study highlights the socioeconomical impact of trichinellosis due to the clinical characteristics of the acute phase and the presence of symptoms in the chronic phase.
Calcagno
Marcela A
MA
Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, UBA, IDEHU-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Teixeira
Cármen
C
Forastiero
María A
MA
Costantino
Susana N
SN
Venturiello
Stella M
SM
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D016266:Food Parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008461:Meat Products / Q000469:parasitology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013552:Swine / Q000469:parasitology; D014234:Trichinella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology