Taenia solium is a zoonotic cestode parasite which causes human neurocysticercosis. Pigs transmit the parasite by acting as the intermediate host. An intervention was implemented to control transmission of T . solium by pigs in Dalit communities of Banke District, Nepal. Every 3 months, pigs were vaccinated with the TSOL18 recombinant vaccine (Cysvax, IIL, India)) and, at the same time, given an oral treatment with 30mg/kg oxfendazole (Paranthic 10% MCI, Morocco). The prevalence of porcine cysticercosis was determined in both an intervention area as well as a similar no intervention control area, among randomly selected, slaughter-age pigs. Post mortem assessments were undertaken both at the start and at the end of the intervention. Participants conducting the post mortem assessments were blinded as to the source of the animals being assessed. At the start of the intervention the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis was 23.6% and 34.5% in the control and intervention areas, respectively. Following the intervention, the prevalence of cysticercosis in pigs from the control area was 16.7% (no significant change), whereas no infection was detected after complete slicing of all muscle tissue and brain in animals from the intervention area (P = 0.004). These findings are discussed in relation to the feasibility and sustainability of T . solium control. The 3-monthly vaccination and drug treatment intervention in pigs used here is suggested as an effective and practical method for reducing T . solium transmission by pigs. The results suggest that applying the intervention over a period of years may ultimately reduce the number of tapeworm carriers and thereby the incidence of NCC.

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The definitive method for diagnosis of porcine cysticercosis is the detection of cysticerci at necropsy. Cysts are typically located in the striated muscle and brain. Until recently Taenia solium cysticerci have not been definitively identified in other tissue locations, despite several comprehensive investigations having been undertaken which included investigation of body organs other than muscle and brain. Recently a study conducted in Zambia reported 27% infection with T . solium in the liver of pigs with naturally acquired porcine cysticercosis, as well as some T . solium infection in the lungs and spleen of some animals. We investigated the cause of lesions in sites other than the muscle or brain in a total of 157 pigs from T . solium endemic regions of Uganda and Nepal which were subjected to extensive investigations at necropsy. Lesions which had the potential to be caused by T . solium were characterised by macroscopic and microscopic examination, histology as well as DNA characterisation by PCR-RFLP and sequencing. Lesions were confirmed as being caused by Taenia hydatigena (both viable and non-viable), by T . asiatica and Echinococcus granulosus (in Nepal) and nematode infections. No T . solium -related lesions or cysticerci were identified in any tissue other than muscle and brain. It is recommended that future evaluations of porcine cysticercosis in aberrant tissue locations include DNA analyses that take appropriate care to avoid the possibility of contamination of tissue specimens with DNA from a different tissue location or a different animal. The use of appropriate control samples to confirm the absence of cross-sample contamination is also recommended.

Pigs play a key role in inter-species transmission of influenza virus, because they have receptors to both avian and human influenza viral strains. A study was conducted in three different districts namely Bhaktapur, Kavre and Banke with face to face type of questionnaire survey and serum sample collection. Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunoassay was utilized for the collected 231 samples for serologic evidence of influenza A. Of the total 231 samples tested, 11 were positive for Influenza virus A with an overall sero-prevalence of (4.76%; Cl95%: 2.68-8.324) Kavre district had highest (5.88%; Cl95%: 2.539-13.04) sero-prevalence, followed by Bhaktapur (5.13%; Cl95%: 2.012-12.46) and Banke (2.94%; Cl95%; 0.8104-10.1) with no significant difference (p=0.685). Rearing swine along with poultry was the most significant risk factor (p=0.03); all positive cases were from the farms that adopted integrated farming system with little to no bio-security measures, especially poultry and swine. Present finding depicts that Influenza A is prevalent in pig farms of Kavre, Banke and Bhaktapur. Further research is needed to sub-type the influenza virus and also determine the effect of commercial poultry and migratory birds on the outbreak of influenza A in swine.  Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 6(2): 122-126

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Detailed post mortem analyses of 68 free-ranging, slaughter-age pigs from two sites in the Banke District of Nepal identified 36% as being infected with Echinococcus granulosus. The cysts ranged from infertile, immature cysts a few millimetres in diameter to fertile cysts >10 centimetres in diameter. PCR RFLP and DNA sequencing identified the cysts as being E. granulosus sensu stricto. The Banke district has recently been identified as having a high prevalence of porcine cysticercosis. These data suggest that cestode zoonoses in this, and possibly other parts of Nepal may be a serious concern for human health. An assessment of the level of human cystic echinococcosis and neurocysticercosis, in the region is warranted and the introduction of control measures are required to limit the parasites' transmission.

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