Transmission Of Cysticercosis Research Articles

Community Health-Education Intervention Trial against Human Taenia solium Taeniasis/Cysticercosis in Central and Southern Zones of Tanzania.

Poor knowledge of human T. solium taeniasis/cysticercosis and insufficient sanitary and hygienic practices have been associated with the persistence of human T. solium infections in endemic areas. Community health education intervention measures were implemented in 42 villages of Kongwa and Songwe Districts to increase knowledge, improve good practices against infection and reduce incidences of human cysticercosis transmission using a health education package. The health education package comprised of leaflet, poster and a booklet The 42 villages were allocated into intervention group and control group, and each group consisted of 21 villages. Baseline and post-intervention information on social demography, knowledge, safe practices and incidences of human cysticercosis was collected from both village groups. The impact of the intervention was evaluated by comparing changes in knowledge, preventive practices related to human T. solium infections and the cumulative incidence of human cysticercosis between intervention and control villages. There was no significant difference in mean knowledge scores and preventive practice mean scores between the control and intervention groups at baseline. However, there were significantly higher knowledge mean scores in the intervention group compared to the control group at one year post-intervention (2.06 ± 1.45 vs. 0.94 ± 1.18, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the mean practice scores between the intervention and the control group at one year post-intervention (2.49 ± 1.13 vs. 2.40 ± 1.13, p = 0.31). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of human T. solium cysticercosis between the intervention and the control group at the baseline (1.4% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.97) by Ag-Elisa, and at one year post-intervention the cumulative incidence of human cysticercosis was 1.9 and 1.2 per cent in the control and intervention group, respectively. There was no significant difference in the cumulative incidence of human cysticercosis between the intervention and the control group at one year post-intervention (p > 0.05). Community health-education intervention is effective at improving the knowledge of human T. solium infections. The improvement in preventive practices and reduction in incidences of human cysticercosis are a gradual process, they may require sanitary and hygienic improvement and more time after the intervention to see improved changes. The study recommends a sustainable public health education on T. solium infections using the health education package through one health approach.

An epidemiological survey of porcine cysticercosis in Rungwe District, Tanzania

Taeniasis/cysticercosis caused by tapeworms belonging to the genus Taenia, poses serious veterinary and public health problems, resulting in economic burden in endemic low-income countries worldwide. However, little epidemiological data exist on infection status among pigs in many areas in Tanzania. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in Rungwe District, Mbeya Region, Tanzania, to define the prevalence and risk factors associated with porcine cysticercosis transmission. One-hundred sixty-nine pigs from 152 households were examined for circulating taeniid antigens by cysticercosis antigen (Ag) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to differentially diagnose Taenia species-specific cysticerci DNA bands. Structured questionnaires were administered in the surveyed households to collect information on risk factors for porcine cysticercosis transmission. Sera from eleven household pigs tested positive for porcine cysticercosis in the Ag-ELISA with an apparent prevalence of 6.5 % (95 % C.I. 3.8–11.3 %) and estimated true prevalence of 6.1 % (95 % C.I. 3.3–10.9 %). DNA Gel electrophoresis confirmed that 100 % of cysticerci isolated amongst pigs slaughtered in the study area belonged to T. solium. Of the five surveyed wards, positive household pigs were from Bulyaga, Kiwira, and Mpuguso. Lack of knowledge on porcine cysticercosis among household members was found to be significantly associated with positivity of Taenia species antigen in pigs sera (OR = 7.742, p = 0.017). Our results show that porcine cysticercosis is prevalent in Rungwe. There is a definite need to establish control measures against this potential zoonosis to safeguard veterinary and public health in the Rungwe District.

Modeling and analysis of taeniasis and cysticercosis transmission dynamics in humans, pigs and cattle

Taeniasis and cysticercosis pose a significant challenge to food safety and public health. Cysticercosis reduces the market value for pigs and cattle by making pork and beef unsafe for consumption. In this paper, a mathematical model for the transmission dynamics of taeniasis and cysticercosis in humans, pigs and cattle is formulated and analyzed. The analysis shows that both the disease free equilibrium (DFE) and the endemic equilibrium (EE) exist. To study the dynamics of the diseases, we derived the basic reproduction number R_{0} by next generation matrix method. When R_{0}< 1, the DFE is globally asymptotically stable whereas when R_{0} > 1 the EE is globally asymptotically stable. The normalized forward sensitivity index was used to determine sensitive parameters to the diseases. Humans’ recruitment rate, probability of humans’ infection with taeniasis and the defecation rate of taenia eggs by humans with taeniasis are the most positive sensitive parameters to diseases’ transmission whereas the human natural death rate is the most negative sensitive parameter. However, it is biologically unethical and not practical to increase human natural mortality rate for disease control. In this case, other parameters with negative sensitivity indices such as death rate of taenia eggs and proportions of unconsumed infected beef and pork can be considered for disease control. Generally, to control the diseases, more efforts should be made directed to reducing the number of humans who have taeniasis and defecate in the open environment. Also meat inspection and indoor keeping of cattle and pigs should be emphasized.

Transmission of porcine cysticercosis in the Portuguesa state of Venezuela.

The aim of this study was to assess transmission of Taenia solium cysticercosis in Palmarito Arriba, a small village in the rural area of the Portuguesa state of Venezuela, through (1) an evaluation of T. solium transmission risk factors present in the community and (2) serological detection of the secreted metacestode HP10 antigen (HP10 Ag) and of anti-metacestode antibodies in sera from rural pigs. Risk factors associated with transmission of cysticercosis were the following: 100% (23/23) of the households lacked piped water, 87.0% (20/23) of households lacked latrines, 88.0% (100/114) of inhabitants routinely defecated in the open/air, 19.05% (12/63) of the interviewed population had observed proglottids in their stools. More significantly, 9/13 householders breeding pigs reported seeing proglottids in their stools. Of the 25 pigs available for bleeding and serological testing, 64% (16/25) were free roaming and 36% (9/25) were "backyard" animals; 28% (7/25) were seropositive for both the HP10 Ag and antibody, 20.0% (5/25) were seropositive for HP10 Ag alone, and 36.0% (9/25) were seropositive for antibody alone. Given this clear evidence of endemic porcine cysticercosis, further studies are needed to assess and control the level of porcine and human taeniasis and cysticercosis in this and neighboring communities.

Persistent Taenia solium Cysticercosis In the State of Morelos, Mexico: Human and Porcine Seroprevalence.

Serological tests are needed to estimate the prevalence of Taenia solium cysticercosis in endemic rural areas. The predictive value of serum antibody levels to diagnose porcine cysticercosis and human neurocysticercosis (NC) was herein assessed by ELISA using serum samples from 247 backyard pigs (141 without cysticercosis and 106 with cysticercosis) and 183 human subjects (116 non-NC subjects and 67 NC patients) in central Mexico diagnosed by necropsy and computed tomography, respectively. A sensitivity of 77.3 and 92.5% and a specificity of 88.6 and 100% were found to diagnose porcine and human cysticercosis, respectively. The prevalence of porcine and human cysticercosis in the state of Morelos was estimated by ELISA. Anti-cysticercal antibodies were found in 8.4 and 19.02% of assayed sera from 1,811 humans and 804 pigs, respectively. Marginalization and living in the eastern region were risk factors for humans, whereas free-roaming, medium marginalization levels and living in Sierra de Huautla were risk factors for pigs. These results clearly evidence the persistence of cysticercosis transmission and neurocysticercosis in a region neighboring Mexico City, pointing out the need to apply effective measures already available for its control.

Epidemiological aspects of cysticercose in relation to hydrographic net at triangulo mineiro, MG, Brazil

Cysticercosis affects cattle, which develop the larva of Taenia saginata after ingesting their eggs, which are released by humans. It is a parasite that is distributed worldwide. The use of geoprocessing allows a better definition of endemic areas and populations that face different levels of risk and thus creates a basis for specific control programs for each farming system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological situation of bovine cysticercosis in four municipalities in the Triângulo Mineiro region (Romaria, Iraí de Minas, Grupiara and Douradoquara), with special attention given to the influence of the hydrographic network on the spatial distribution of the disease. The properties sampled (68) for laboratory and epidemiological analysis (questionnaire) were also georeferenced. The risk factors were analyzed using the ArcGIS 10.1 program. The animals were submitted to immunodiagnostic tests (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot) for the diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis. After confirming the disease focus properties, the spatial distribution of the cases was analyzed in relation to the watershed of the region. The positive results for bovine cysticercosis on the properties of the municipalities of Romaria and Iraí de Minas were grouped together, which was a significant result (p &lt; 0.01). Although the positive results for bovine cysticercosis in the municipalities of Grupiara and Douradoquara were randomly distributed (p = 0.27), the risk factor that proved to be statistically significant in the regression analysis for cysticercosis transmission was the water source from the river/stream. From the analysis of the map based on the hydrography of the region, it can be observed that for the distribution of positive cases for bovine cysticercosis in the properties, the main risk factor was the interference of the rivers and their tributaries that fed the municipalities sampled. This study allowed the identification of the prevalence of the taeniasis-cysticercosis complex in the properties of the sampled municipalities (53.84% in Romaria, 45.45% in Grupiara, 37.03% in Iraí de Minas and 35.29% in Douradoquara). The results from this study will help in the prevention and control of this zoonosis in the researched areas.

Spontaneously Arrested Transmission of Cysticercosis in a Highly Endemic Village with a Very Low Migration Rate.

Taenia solium cysticercosis is difficult to eliminate without interventions or societal development. Atahualpa is a rural Ecuadorian village with documented low migration rate, where domestic pig raising is common and human cysticercosis is endemic. To assess neurocysticercosis (NCC) prevalence, 1,273 villagers aged ≥ 20 years underwent neuroimaging studies, which showed calcified lesions in 121 (9.5%) individuals, but no active disease. Likewise, positive reactions, apparently nonspecific, were found in only 3/200 subjects by the use of a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect T. solium antigens in urine. Only 2/418 pigs reacted to three antibody bands on serum western blot and none to more than three bands. This is the first time that spontaneously arrested T. solium transmission is documented in a known endemic village. Understanding why active transmission stopped could provide insights on potential targets for control interventions. Atahualpa could provide an optimal scenario for longitudinal studies on the consequences of calcified NCC.

Perfil da transmissão e prevalência da cisticercose bovina em propriedades rurais do Triângulo Mineiro

Resumo: A cisticercose pode acometer o bovino, que desenvolve a larva da Taenia saginata. Apesar da importância da cisticercose para a saúde pública, para a saúde animal e para economia, a realidade epidemiológica da ocorrência dessa zoonose no Brasil é pouco conhecida. No estado de Minas Gerais a maioria dos dados é obtida dos serviços oficiais de Inspeção Sanitária nos matadouros-frigoríficos, sendo poucas as informações baseadas em dados de campo oriundos de animais vivos. Com o objetivo de avaliar a situação epidemiológica da cisticercose bovina em pequenas e médias propriedades rurais de quatro municípios, situados na região do Triângulo Mineiro, se pesquisou a ocorrência e os principais fatores de risco associados à transmissão da doença nessas propriedades. Dessa forma, foi realizado um estudo epidemiológico de corte transversal envolvendo as 68 propriedades localizadas nas zonas rurais dos quatro municípios, onde foram coletadas 1002 amostras de sangue bovino e aplicado um questionário epidemiológico. O diagnóstico sorológico da cisticercose foi realizado por triagem pelo teste ELISA indireto e os casos suspeitos foram submetidos ao Imunoblot para confirmação. Este estudo revelou a prevalência de 4,7% de cisticercose bovina nas propriedades da zona rural dos municípios amostrados, no período de julho a agosto de 2013. Os fatores que se mostraram estatisticamente significantes para a transmissão da cisticercose foram a expertiness do responsável pela propriedade (RC 5,81 IC 1,87-8,66), a renda familiar (RC 6,02 IC 1,33-8,77) e a qualidade da água da propriedade (RC 9,40 IC 1,97-9,59). Outros fatores foram observados com menor significância. Esses resultados identificaram os principais fatores que interferem na transmissão da cisticercose bovina, permitindo subsidiar medidas de prevenção e controle dessa importante zoonose na região do Triângulo Mineiro.

New insights in cysticercosis transmission.

Taenia solium infection causes severe neurological disease in humans. Even though infection and exposure to swine cysticercosis is scattered throughout endemic villages, location of the tapeworm only explains some of the nearby infections and is not related to location of seropositive pigs. Other players might be involved in cysticercosis transmission. In this study we hypothesize that pigs that carry nematodes specific to dung beetles are associated with cysticercosis infection and/or exposure. We carried out a cross-sectional study of six villages in an endemic region in northern Peru. We euthanized all pigs (326) in the villages and performed necropsies to diagnose cysticercosis. For each pig, we counted cysticerci; measured anti-cysticercus antibodies; identified intestinal nematodes; tabulated distance to nearest human tapeworm infection; and recorded age, sex, productive stage, and geographic reference. For the purpose of this paper, we defined cysticercosis infection as the presence of at least one cysticercus in pig muscles, and cysticercosis exposure as seropositivity to anti-cysticercus antibodies with the presence of 0–5 cysticerci. Compared to pigs without nematode infections, those pigs infected with the nematode Ascarops strongylina were significantly associated with the presence of cysticerci (OR: 4.30, 95%CI: 1.83–10.09). Similarly, pigs infected with the nematode Physocephalus sexalatus were more likely to have cysticercosis exposure (OR: 2.21, 95%CI: 1.50–3.28). In conclusion, our results suggest that there appears to be a strong positive association between the presence of nematodes and both cysticercosis infection and exposure in pigs. The role of dung beetles in cysticercosis dynamics should be further investigated.

The Prevalence of Porcine Cysticercosis and Risk Factors for Taeniasis in Iringa Rural District

The present study aimed at determining the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis and associated risk factors for taeniosis in Iringa rural. A total of 110 households rearing pigs from sixteen villages were involved in a survey in which 308 pigs were examined for Cysticercus cysts by antemortem and postmortem methods. The risk factors for taeniosis were assessed and evaluated through questionnaires, interviews and by direct observation. Of 308 pigs examined by lingual palpation, 23 (7.5%, p<0.001) had cysticerci; the prevalence rates was higher in male pigs than female 16 (69.5%) and 7 (30.4%), respectively. Likewise the prevalence was higher in villages away from the main roads where there were pigs that customarily ran loose or fed human feaces. The triceps muscle had the highest number of cysts 44 (51.1%) and the diaphragm had the lowest 6 (6.9%). Of 4020 people who sought for treatment in five wards per month, 155 (21.8%) had history of intestinal worms, 6 (2.2%) consumed uninspected pork from peoples house, 82 (74.5%) lack tap water, 13 (12%) had no toilets and 40 (22.7%) practiced free range pig husbandry or tethering method. The findings from this study identified community behavioral, household hygiene and environmental practices that should be modified to prevent continued transmission of cysticercosis and taeniosis in Iringa rural district.

Prevalence of porcine cysticercosis and associated risk factors in Homa Bay District, Kenya

BackgroundTaenia solium is an important zoonosis in many developing countries. Cysticercosis poses a serious public health risk and leads to economic losses to the pig production industry. Due to scarcity of data on the epidemiology of porcine cysticercosis in Kenya, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors for porcine cysticercosis within Homa Bay district. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 2010, and a total of 392 pigs were recruited in a household survey, with all being tested by ante-mortem lingual palpation (together with questionnaire data on pig production, occurrence and transmission of porcine cysticercosis, risk factors and awareness of porcine cysticercosis collected from the households from which pigs were sampled). Sufficient serum was collected from 232 of the pigs to be tested for the presence of circulating parasite antigen using a monoclonal antibody-based sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA).ResultsSeventy six pigs were found positive by the Ag-ELISA (32.8%, 95% C.I. 26.8-39.2%), while by tongue inspection cysticerci were detected in 22/ 392 pigs (5.6% 95% C.I. 3.6-8.4%).The most important risk factor for porcine cysticercosis in the Homa Bay area was for pigs to belong to a farm where latrine use by members of the household was not evident (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.13–2.37).ConclusionThe present findings indicate that porcine cysticercosis is endemic in Homa Bay District, and that latrine provision, in conjunction with free-range pig keeping contributes significantly to porcine cysticercosis transmission.

Economic implications of three strategies for the control of taeniasis

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of three strategies for the control of taeniasis in a community, in terms of cost per case treated. A study was conducted in South India to determine the prevalence of taeniasis by screening stool samples from 653 randomly chosen subjects, for coproantigens. The costs incurred in the project were used to estimate the cost per case screened and treated. A one-way sensitivity analysis was carried out for varying rates of taeniasis, different screening strategies and mass therapy. Further sensitivity analysis was carried out with different manpower and test costs. The rate of taeniasis as detected by ELISA for coproantigen was 3 per 1000 (2 of 653 samples). Our study showed that mass therapy without screening for taeniasis would be the most economical strategy in terms of cost per case treated if field workers are employed exclusively for either mass therapy or screening. For each strategy, costs per case treated are higher at low prevalence of taeniasis, with a sharp rise below 15%. In places that are endemic for taeniasis and neurocysticercosis, mass therapy or screening for taeniasis should be considered. Screening by stool microscopy is not cost-effective in terms of cost per case of taeniasis treated owing to its low sensitivity. Although the cost per case of taeniasis treated is high at low prevalence of taeniasis for all options, incorporating mass therapy into existing mass drug distribution programmes might prove to be the most cost-effective control strategy.

Seroepidemiological study of human cysticercosis with blood samples collected on filter paper, in Lages, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, 2004-2005

Human serofrequency of antibodies against Taenia solium antigens was determined and risk factors for cysticercosis transmission were identified. Individuals (n=878) from periurban and rural locations of Lages, SC, were interviewed to gather demographic, sanitary and health information. Interviews and blood sample collections by finger prick on Whatman filter paper were performed from August 2004 to May 2005. Observation determined that 850 samples were suitable for analysis and were tested by ELISA using vesicular fluid of Taenia crassiceps heterologous antigen. To ensure the reliability of the results, 77 samples of the dried blood were matched with sera. The reactive samples were submitted to a serum confirmatory immunoblot (IB) test using purified Taenia crassiceps glycoproteins. The ELISA results for the dried blood and serum samples were statistically consistent. ELISA was positive in 186 (21.9%) out of 850 individuals. A group of 213 individuals were asked to collect vein blood for IB (186 with positive result in ELISA and 27 with inappropriate whole blood samples) and 130 attended the request. The IB was positive in 29 (3.4%) out of 850 individuals. A significant correlation (p = 0.0364) was determined among individuals who tested positive in the IB assay who practiced both pig rearing and kitchen gardening. ELISA with dried blood eluted from filter paper was suitable for cysticercosis population surveys. In Lages, human infection was associated with pig rearing and kitchen gardening. The prevalence index was compatible with other Latin American endemic areas.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Porcine Cysticercosis in Angónia District, Mozambique

Taenia solium is an important zoonosis in many developing countries. Cysticercosis poses a serious public health risk and incurs sizeable economic losses to pig production. Because data on the epidemiology of porcine cysticercosis in Mozambique are scarce, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors for porcine cysticercosis. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 11 villages in Angónia district, Tete province in northwestern Mozambique. Between September and November, 2007, a total of 661 pigs were tested serologically and examined by tongue inspection. Serum samples were tested for the presence of circulating parasite antigen using a monoclonal antibody-based sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA). In addition, a questionnaire survey to collect information on pig production, occurrence and transmission of porcine cysticercosis, risk factors and awareness of porcine cysticercosis was conducted in the selected households from which pigs were sampled. Two hundred thirty-one samples (34.9%) were found positive by the Ag-ELISA, while by tongue inspection on the same animals cysticerci were detected in 84 pigs (12.7%). Increasing age (OR = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.13–2.37) and free-range pig husbandry system (OR = 3.81; 95% CI = 2.08–7.06) were important risk factors for porcine cysticercosis in the district. The present findings indicate that porcine cysticercosis is endemic in the region, and that increasing pig age and pig husbandry practices contribute significantly to porcine cysticercosis transmission. Further epidemiological studies on the prevalence and transmission of porcine cysticercosis in rural communities in Mozambique are needed to enable collection of more baseline data and implementation of effective control strategies within the country.

Inaugural Meeting of the Cysticercosis Working Group in Europe

Inaugural Meeting of the Cysticercosis Working Group in Europe

Spatial Distribution of Taenia solium Porcine Cysticercosis within a Rural Area of Mexico

Cysticercosis is caused by Taenia solium, a parasitic disease that affects humans and rurally bred pigs in developing countries. The cysticercus may localize in the central nervous system of the human, causing neurocysticercosis, the most severe and frequent form of the disease. There appears to be an association between the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis and domestic pigs that wander freely and have access to human feces. In order to assess whether the risk of cysticercosis infection is clustered or widely dispersed in a limited rural area, a spatial analysis of rural porcine cysticercosis was applied to 13 villages of the Sierra de Huautla in Central Mexico. Clustering of cases in specific households would indicate tapeworm carriers in the vicinity, whereas their dispersal would suggest that the ambulatory habits of both humans and pigs contribute to the spread of cysticercosis. A total of 562 pigs were included in this study (August–December 2003). A global positioning system was employed in order to plot the geographic distribution of both cysticercotic pigs and risk factors for infection within the villages. Prevalence of pig tongue cysticercosis varied significantly in sampled villages (p = 0.003), ranging from 0% to 33.3% and averaging 13.3%. Pigs were clustered in households, but no differences in the clustering of cysticercotic and healthy pigs were found. In contrast, the presence of pigs roaming freely and drinking stagnant water correlated significantly with porcine cysticercosis (p = 0.07), as did the absence of latrines (p = 0.0008). High prevalence of porcine cysticercosis proves that transmission is still quite common in rural Mexico. The lack of significant differentiation in the geographical clustering of healthy and cysticercotic pigs weakens the argument that focal factors (e.g., household location of putative tapeworm carriers) play an important role in increasing the risk of cysticercosis transmission in pigs. Instead, it would appear that other wide-ranging biological, physical, and cultural factors determine the geographic spread of the disease. Extensive geographic dispersal of the risk of cysticercosis makes it imperative that control measures be applied indiscriminately to all pigs and humans living in this endemic area.

Intestinal cestodes

This review summarizes the biology, clinical aspects, diagnosis, treatment and epidemiology for the common and rarer (zoonotic) intestinal cestodes of humans. Mass drug application to eliminate Taenia solium carriers may have only temporary effects on cysticercosis transmission. At least two major world genotypes of T. solium have been identified and greater genetic heterogeneity may occur at the regional level. A new human taeniid T. asiatica has been confirmed which occurs sympatrically with T. saginata and T. solium in Southeast Asia. Coproantigen and PCR tests for Taenia spp. have greatly improved diagnostic efficacy and epidemiological studies. There appears to be an increase in human diphyllobothriasis in Europe, Japan and the Americas. Human intestinal cestode infections are globally primarily caused by species in three genera: Taenia, Hymenolepis or Diphyllobothrium. Sporadic zoonotic infections caused by nontaeniids are usually food-borne or due to accidental ingestion of invertebrate hosts. Intestinal cestode infections generally result in only mild symptoms characterized chiefly by abdominal discomfort and diarrhoea. Most human intestinal cestode infections can be treated with a single oral dose of praziquantel or niclosamide.

Neurocysticercosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: A Case Report

Ecuador is considered a holoendemic high-risk area for the transmission of cysticercosis. Moreover, the progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) occurs worldwide. We present a case of simultaneous diagnosis of cysticercosis and HIV infection in a 22-year-old Ecuadorian immigrant. We would postulate that with the increasing HIV incidence in endemic areas of cysticercosis, the simultaneous diagnosis of both diseases is an event to be expected.

A neurocisticercose humana na Baixada Fluminense, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

The objective of this manuscript was to know the neurocysticercosis prevalence and some epidemiological aspects in Baixada Fluminense, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The data came from the service of computerized tomography of the Nova Iguaçu General Hospital from 1996 to 2002 and from neuroimage "D'IMAGEM" Center from 1992 to 2002. We analyzed 36,379 tomographies identifying 72 cases of the parasitoses, the majority in women (62.5%, p>0.05) and in the chronic phase (93.1%). The neurocysticercosis had occurred in all age groups and increase with age (r=0.84, p<0.05), being that 45.8% of them up to 50 years. The 20 interviewed cases were origin from several municipal districts of Baixada Fluminense, the monthly per capita income was 366 R dollars. The growing urbanization, deficient sanitary vigilance, absence of sewage systems and sanitary education are the main factors that potentially the transmission of cysticercosis and taeniasis in the Baixada Fluminense.

Prevalence of taeniasis and cysticercosis in a population of urban residence in Honduras

To determine the prevalence of antibodies to Taenia solium and taeniasis in a population of urban residence, an epidemiological study was carried out in a military institution located in Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras. A total of 404 persons were interviewed to collect epidemiological data, investigate antibodies to T. solium cysticercus by the enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) assay and taeniasis by Ritchie’s concentration technique. A total of 41 persons that were living at the headquarters and were traveling frequently to their rural hometowns were regarded as rural residents, the remaining 363 persons were considered urban residents. The seroprevalence of antibodies was 22% (9/41) in the rural residents and 15% (54/363) in the urban residents. The overall seroprevalence was 15.6% (63/404). Analyses of risk factors for seropositivity in the urban residents showed that seropositivity was statistically associated with poor household conditions such as raising pigs (odds ratio (OR), 5.39; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.42–19.50), lack of potable water (OR, 3.66; CI, 1.25–9.94), lack of sanitary toilet (OR, 2.92; CI, 1.35–6.05) and earthen floor (OR, 2.48; CI, 1.28–4.73). Also seropositivity was associated with low academic education (OR, 2.5O; CI, 1.33–4.69) and lack of knowledge about the parasite (OR, 2.39; CI, 1.26–4.49). Out of 328 persons examined for intestinal parasites, two soldiers (0.6%) coming from rural areas were identified as Taenia sp. carriers. T. solium was identified in one case. Although T. solium infections originate and are more prevalent in rural villages, the high seroprevalence found in this study indicates that they can also be found at important levels in urban communities. Migration of tapeworm carriers from rural areas to the city grants the transmission of cysticercosis when poor environmental and social conditions are present.