Abstract
BackgroundIn Catalonia (north-eastern Spain), Taenia saginata has been described in cattle but its occurrence in humans is unclear. Moreover, whether cattle acquired the infection in Catalonia or outside Catalonia and its economic impact have not been investigated. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and spatial distribution of bovine cysticercosis in Catalonia (2008–2015), and the burden from T. saginata upon the animal and human sectors in Catalonia (2013–2015).MethodsData on cattle diagnosed with cysticercosis at meat inspection were collected and analysed. Cattle movement history was used to identify the most likely place of bovine cysticercosis infection and to investigate its spatial distribution. Data on taeniosis treatment (niclosamide and praziquantel) costs and their supply in Catalonia as well as data on patients attending primary care with diagnosis of taeniosis were collected. The financial impact associated with T. saginata due to carcasses condemned and frozen, meat inspection and human taeniosis was estimated.ResultsDuring 2008–2015, between 18 and 107 cattle were found positive for cysticercosis each year (prevalence at slaughter of 0.010%). Movement history was available for 44% of the infected cattle and in 53% of them Catalonia was identified as the place where the infection was acquired with highest probability. Two significant bovine cysticercosis clusters were detected. The number of patients diagnosed with taeniosis in primary care during the period 2013–2016 was 41–63/year. The overall economic impact of T. saginata (2013–2015) amounted to 154,903 €/year (95% CI: 113,075–196,762). Meat inspection accounted for 81.9% (95% CI: 75.8–86.2%) of the costs, followed by costs due to carcass condemnation and freezing (9.4%; 95% CI: 6.9–12.8%), and taeniosis-associated costs (8.7%; 95% CI: 6.7–11.6%). Costs due to freezing and condemnation of carcasses reached 19,442 €/year (95% CI: 17,528–21,391) (509 €/lightly infected carcass and 1,140 €/heavily infected carcass). Taeniosis-associated costs were estimated at 12,848.5 €/year (237 €/patient).ConclusionsThe public health risk of T. saginata in the area seems to be low. The economic impact due to T. saginata was mainly attributed to meat inspection. The cost due to carcass condemnation and freezing was limited compared to the revenue of the beef sector. Developing and implementing risk-based surveillance is needed to lower the costs of meat inspection. Considering cattle movements might be useful in the development of such a strategy.
Highlights
In Catalonia, Taenia saginata has been described in cattle but its occurrence in humans is unclear
Prevalence and spatial distribution of bovine cysticercosis most likely acquired in Catalonia between 2008 and 2015 Farm where cattle most likely became infected Movement history could be retrieved and analysed for 167 cattle, out of a total of 382 meat inspection positives, for which individual identification was available
The results of this study suggest that the public health risk might be low as the number of taeniosis cases diagnosed in primary care ranged between just 41 and 63 per year
Summary
In Catalonia (north-eastern Spain), Taenia saginata has been described in cattle but its occurrence in humans is unclear. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and spatial distribution of bovine cysticercosis in Catalonia (2008–2015), and the burden from T. saginata upon the animal and human sectors in Catalonia (2013–2015). Bovines acquire the infection (bovine cysticercosis) by accidentally ingesting water, pasture or fodder contaminated with T. saginata ova originating from human faeces [2]. The eggs hatch and release oncospheres that migrate, through the circulatory system, mainly to muscular tissues where they establish and develop into cysticerci. In the muscles they will remain infective for months or even years before undergoing degeneration and calcification [3]. Bovine cysticercosis in naturally infected cattle does not cause clinical signs [4]
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