Epidemiological surveillance and control of trichinellosis in Buenos Aires province.

The Ministries of Health and Agrarian Concerns created in 1994 the "Zoonosis Commission", a working group of professionals of both institutions, for improving the epidemiological surveillance and control of trichinellosis in Buenos Aires Province. The main purpose was the early detection and control of swine trichinellosis, for reducing human outbreaks, the strategy of action was to decentralize epidemiological surveillance and control activities at municipal level, integrating 101 counties of the endemic area. Since 1996 a high number of infected pigs were detected previously to human consumption (years 1996-1999: 1,073 infected pigs), and since 1997 the occurrence of human outbreaks and swine foci have decreased.

[Serological, clinical, and epidemiological aspects of an outbreak of trichinosis in Azul, province of Buenos Aires].

An outbreak of human trichinellosis that took place in Southern Buenos Aires Province, an endemic area for this zoonosis, was studied. Eighteen individuals were infected by eating swine sausages lacking veterinary control. Clinical symptoms, as well as serological studies related to antibody production and cytotoxic capacity of the sera are described.