Seroprevalence of cysticercosis in Bénin

Abstract

We report the results of a seroepidemiological study on the prevalence of cysticercosis in Bénin. Cluster sampling at 3 levels was performed in the 6 départements (Atacora, Borgou, Zou, Mono, Atlantique and Oueme) and 2625 serum samples, from 1329 adult females and 1296 adult males, were collected. Antibodies against Taenia solium cysticerci were first searched for by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the 41 seropositive samples were then examined by enzyme-linked electroimmunotransfer blot assay (EITB). Thirty-five samples gave positive results in the EITB. The overall seroprevalence of cysticercosis was therefore 1·3% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0·9–1·9).The seroprevalence was 1·9% in males (95% CI 1·2–2·7) and 0·8% (95% CI 0·4–1·5) in females ( P < 0·05). A progressive increase in seroprevalence with increasing age was found. The highest seroprevalences were observed in Atacora and Atlantique, 2 non-Muslim départements (3·3% and 3·0%, respectively). This study demonstrated the public health importance of cysticercosis in Bénin.