Abstract
BackgroundTaenia solium cysticercosis, recognized as a neglected tropical disease by the WHO, is distributed mostly in developing countries of Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Pigs and humans act as intermediate hosts, acquiring T. solium cysticerci (larval stage) in their tissue, through the ingestion of T. solium eggs shed in the faeces of humans infected with adult tapeworms. The disease has a negative impact on rural economies due to losses in productivity arising from human disease, pork carcass condemnations and loss of market access. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of T. solium cysticercosis in pigs in Dak Lak Province in the Central Highlands of Vietnam and to identify household level characteristics associated with T. solium porcine cysticercosis.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of household pigs in three districts of Dak Lak Province. A total of 408 households in six villages in three districts were visited between June and October 2015. A questionnaire was administered to the head of each household, and within each household, serum samples were collected from three pigs. Serum samples were analyzed using the recombinant T24H antigen in enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot assay and lentil lectin purified glycoprotein in EITB assay. A Bayesian, mixed-effects logistic regression model was developed to identify management factors associated with the probability of a household having at least one cysticercosis-positive pig.ResultsThe prevalence of porcine T. solium cysticercosis in this study was low at 0.94 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51–1.68] cases per 100 pigs at risk, in agreement with other studies conducted throughout Vietnam. Scavenging of food and coprophagy were associated with T. solium cysticercosis [odds ratios 1.98 (95% CrI: 0.55–4.74) and 2.57 (95% CrI: 1.22–4.66), respectively].ConclusionsThis study proves that the seroprevalence of porcine cysticercosis in Dak Lak Province was as low as that of other studies conducted throughout Vietnam. Scavenging of food and coprophagy are modifiable factors, providing the opportunity to decrease the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis further in the province.
Highlights
Taenia solium cysticercosis, recognized as a neglected tropical disease by the WHO, is distributed mostly in developing countries of Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and Asia
Twelve single samples among the 10 positive pool samples were positive for T. solium antibodies using the recombinant antigen T24H (rT24H)-enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) assay and all 12 single samples were positive using lentil lectin purified glycoprotein (LLGP)-EITB
Among 70 visited households in Krong Nang district, two (2.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.49–10.8%) possessed T. solium cysticercosis positive pigs, and no seropositive pigs were identified in 135 households in Buon Don District
Summary
Taenia solium cysticercosis, recognized as a neglected tropical disease by the WHO, is distributed mostly in developing countries of Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. The presence of porcine cysticercosis impacts negatively on an economy due to costs arising from carcass condemnation and negative impacts on market access and trade of pork. Vietnam is located in a region endemic for T. solium [3], the data on porcine cysticercosis are limited. During 1994 to 2005, the highest reported prevalence of porcine cysticercosis in Vietnam among four carcass-based studies was less than 1% [4]. These estimates were, for the most part, based on studies conducted in commercial slaughterhouses, and do not reflect the prevalence of cysticercosis in pig populations in rural communities that are not processed in commercial slaughterhouses [5]. To the best of our knowledge, the only study of porcine cysticercosis in the south of Vietnam was carried out in 1994 [6]
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