Abstract
Taenia solium causes cysticercosis in pigs and taeniasis and neurocysticercosis in humans. Oncosphere antigens have proven to be effective as vaccines to protect pigs against an experimental infection with T. solium. A pair-matched vaccination trial field, using a combination of two recombinant antigens, TSOL16 and TSOL18, was undertaken in rural villages of Peru to evaluate the efficacy of this vaccine under natural conditions. Pairs of pigs (n=137) comprising one vaccinated and one control animal, were allocated to local villagers. Animals received two vaccinations with 200μg of each of TSOL16 and TSOL18, plus 5mg Quil-A. Necropsies were performed 7 months after the animals were distributed to the farmers. Vaccination reduced 99.7% and 99.9% (p<0.01) the total number of cysts and the number of viable cysts, respectively. Immunization with the TSOL16–TSOL18 vaccines has the potential to control T. solium transmission in areas where the disease is endemic, reducing the source for tapeworm infections in humans.
Highlights
Taenia solium is a taeniid cestode parasite which causes taeniasis in humans and cysticercosis in humans and pigs
In Latin America there are more than 400,000 symptomatic neurocysticercosis cases with almost 10% of these cases occurring in Peru (Bern et al, 1999)
The number of animals required for the field trial was calculated using Fisher’s exact test, taking into consideration the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis in the study area being 10%; a 90% reduction in the occurrence of the disease in the pigs vaccinated with the TSOL16–TSOL18 vaccine; a power of 80% and a significance level of 95%
Summary
Taenia solium is a taeniid cestode parasite which causes taeniasis in humans and cysticercosis in humans and pigs. When the cysticerci affect the central nervous system the disease is called neurocysticercosis. Neurocysticercosis is a zoonotic disease which is widespread in the developing world. In Latin America there are more than 400,000 symptomatic neurocysticercosis cases with almost 10% of these cases occurring in Peru (Bern et al, 1999). The life cycle of T. solium involves both humans and pigs. The adult tapeworm lives in the human small intestine. Tapeworm eggs are shed in the feces and if ingested by a pig, the larvae or cysticerci develop principally in the muscle of the pig
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