Characterization of Trichinella spiralis and its incidence in Ecuador

Abstract

Trichinella spiralis is a parasite that can infect humans through consumption of infected raw or undercooked meat, especially pork, wild boar, bear and other wild animals. Trichinella infection can cause a disease called trichinosis, which can result in serious symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, facial and eye swelling, and in severe cases, cardiac and respiratory complications. The main objective of this research is to characterize the pathogenicity mechanisms of Trichinella spiralis and its incidence in Ecuador through a bibliographic review. A bibliographic review of a retrospective descriptive narrative type was carried out. Trichinella spiralis infection has a suppressive effect on the immune system, making it totally invisible to invasive elimination attacks. The parasite, as its life cycle progresses, changes its morphology and excretion, which allows it to migrate with lymph or blood, invading skeletal muscle. The lack of mechanisms for detecting Trichinella in pork and monitoring safe meat handling and cooking practices constitute a food safety problem in Ecuador. The specific incidence in humans of Trichinella spiralis in Ecuador is not widely documented in scientific literature or public health sources. However, although trichinosis is a parasitic disease that is not very common in Ecuador, it is necessary for health professionals to be attentive to this problem and work together to implement effective control and prevention strategies