[The epidemiological profile of trichinosis in the state of Zacatecas].

A compilation of data from the cases which have occurred in Zacatecas during the period between 1976 and 1987 has been made. It describes the endemia and locates the problem in time, person and space. Because of their impact, magnitude and consequences the more important data of the outbreaks is presented. The first case of trichinosis diagnosed in Zacatecas was in 1975; since then there have been other outbreaks; four in 1978, with the highest mortality of 33 per cent which occurred in Laguna del Carretero a community of Villanueva. During the period between 1979-1988 there have been 17 more, among these a death occurred in Valparaiso and, in Pozo de Gamboa there was an abortion in a 20-year-old female patient. This infection has higher frequency in urban areas. The most affected group age is 15-44 years; in this group there have been 51 percent of the cases occurring in females in a proportion of 1:1.8. Seven of the 36 countries in the state of Zacatecas, such as Zacatecas, Villanueva, Valparaiso, Panuco, Jerez, Jalpa and Guadalupe, have reported cases; the countries are listed by frequency. The transmission in most of the cases was caused by ingestion of raw pork products, in a fen undercooked pork meat. The diagnosis was confirmed in sixty cases by the conservation of the parasite in muscle biopsy and oronyosistis which represent a 38 percent of the reported total cases. Six cases was confirmed by histologic sections and immunoelectrophoresis test.