Application of an immunoassay to determine risk factors associated with porcine cysticercosis in rural areas of Yucatan, Mexico

Abstract

A Western blot assay for identification of 26 kDa and/or 8 kDa antigens in a crude saline extract (CSE) of Taenia solium metacestodes, previously developed for human cysticercosis, was evaluated for use with pigs. The test population used for assay standardisation consisted of 45 cysticercotic pigs (5 pigs positive by necropsy and 40 selected by tongue palpation and LL-Gp immunoblot but not confirmed by necropsy), 48 pigs with heterologous infections and 40 negative controls from endemic and non-endemic areas. The test detected 93% of the cysticercotic group and was 100% specific. In a field study this antigen preparation was compared by immunoblot with antibody recognition for Gp13-50 antigens in a lentil–lectin semi-purified glycoprotein extract of T. solium (LL-Gp). The seroprevalence to CSE antigen was slightly lower (26/75) when compared to LL-Gp (29/75) and this represented a non-significant difference. The CSE Western blot assay was used to assess seroprevalence of T. solium cysticercosis in pig populations in the state of Yucatan, Mexico. A total of 1099 pigs sampled at random from 25 villages revealed a seroprevalence of 23% (253/1099). Seroprevalence in intensively reared, farmed pigs was 2% (7/228). In comparison with farmed pigs, the seroprevalence was 33% (172/513) in free-roaming backyard pigs (OR=13.86, CI=4.07–47.22, p<10 −6) and 25% (74/98) in semi-confined backyard pigs (OR=14.03, CI=5.60–35.16, p<10 −6). There was no significant difference in seroprevalence by sex ( p=0.23). Seroprevalence decreased with age ( χ 2-test for linear trend=7.803, p<0.006). Results of this study demonstrate that the CSE Western blot can be applied for reliable immunodiagnosis of T. solium cysticercosis in pigs. Furthermore, variation in pig husbandry in Yucatan indicated significantly higher exposure to cysticercosis in free-roaming backyard pigs compared to intensively reared animals from the same area.