Entre os anos de 2001-2003 foram coletadas amostras de sangue de 675 pacientes de dois hospitais psiquiátricos da região central do Chile, 172 de indivíduos sadios (médicos, enfermeiros e paramédicos) destas instituições e 1200 de doadores de sangue de cidades das regiões norte (Arica e Antofagasta), central (Valparaiso e Santiago) e sul (La Union) para determinar a frequência de anticorpos anti Strongyloides stercoralis mediante a reação de enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Foram observadas soropositividade de 12.1% em pacientes de hospitais psiquiátricos e de 0,25% em doadores de sangue (p < 0.05). Todas as amostras dos indivíduos sadios foram não reagentes. Entre os doadores de sangue a soropositividade ocorreu somente nos indivíduos de Arica (1,0%) e La Union (0,5%) sugerindo que a estrongiloidíase poderia estar localizada em determinadas áreas geográficas do país. Conclui-se que no Chile as infecções por S. stercoralis seriam endêmicas, de baixa freqüência e afetando especialmente grupos de risco como os pacientes psiquiátricos.

To determine the frequency of Strongyloides stercoralis antibodies by means of the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in Chile, in 2001-2003, 675 blood samples of patients of two psychiatric hospitals and 172 of healthy individuals (doctors, nurses and paramedicals) of these institutions, and 1,200 serum samples of blood donors of Northern region (Arica and Antofagasta), Central region (Valparaiso and Santiago) and Southern region (La Union) were collected. ELISA showed positivity of 12.1% in psychiatric hospitalized patients, none (0%) in the health personnel and 0.25% in blood donors (p < 0.05). Only in blood donors of Arica (1%) and La Union (0.5%) the ELISA test was positive suggesting that strongyloidiasis is focalized in determinate zones of the country. In Chile, human infections by S. stercoralis are endemic with very low frequency in apparently healthy individuals and high prevalence in risk groups such as the mentally ill hospitalized patients.

The first South American case of human trichinosis, resulting from the consumption of roast wild boar (Sus scrofa) is reported in Chile. The patient presented fever, diarrhea, myalgias, facial edema, sub-conjunctival reddening, photophobia, eosinophilia, and elevated glutamic oxalacetic transaminase. The diagnosis was confirmed by two immunoenzymatic tests (ELISA) using somatic and excretion-secretion antigens.

A familiar outbrake of strongyloidosis affected peruvian immigrants who had arrived Chile in november 2001 is reported. In march 2002, Strongyloides stercoralis infection of the index individual was confirmed by the Basic-Clinical Laboratory of Parasitology of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Chile, in Santiago, Chile. At the Roberto del Río Pediatric Hospital, a 11 years old girl presenting juvenil rheumatoid arthritis and mild abdominal distress was studied. A serial of three stool samples was collected and procesed by ether-centrifugal concentration technique. A plentiful quantity of rhabditoid larvae of S. stercoralis was observed. To detect larvae in the faeces and specific serum antibodies against S. stercoralis by means of ELISA her parents and sister were studied. The mother of the index case and her sister were positive in both test. The father was not infected. The three positive cases were treated with Ivermectine. A control study performed one year later demonstrated a positive ELISA test only in the sister

Se presenta un brote familiar de stron-gyloidosis que afectó a inmigrantes peruanos que habían llegado a Chile en noviembre del año 2001. En marzo del 2002, se confirmó en el Laboratorio de Parasitología Básico-Clínico de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Chile que el caso índice presentaba infección por Strongyloides stercoralis. Correspondía a una menor de 11 años que estaba siendo estudiada en el Hospital Roberto del Río por artritis reumatoide juvenil. Además de esta patología la niña refería leves molestias abdominales, siendo derivada a nuestra unidad, donde se le efectuó un examen parasitológico seriado de deposiciones (EPSD), observándose abundantes larvas rabditoides de S. stercoralis, por lo cual se procedió a estudiar al grupo familiar integrado por los padres y una hermana. A todos ellos se les efectuó EPSD e inmunodiagnóstico mediante ELISA para detectar anticuerpos anti S.stercoralis. Resultaron positivos para ambos exámenes la madre y las dos hijas. El padre fue negativo. Se decidió tratar con ivermectina y controlar los resultados del tratamiento anti-parasitario al grupo familiar al cabo de un año. Después de ese periodo permanecía positiva serológicamente, solamente la hermana del caso índice debido a que no ingirió los medicamentos de la manera indicada