We estimated the Taenia solium swine cysticercosis risk gradient surrounding tapeworm carriers in seven rural communities in Peru. At baseline, the prevalences of taeniasis by microscopy and swine cysticercosis by serology were 1.2% (11 of 898) and 30.8% (280 of 908), respectively. The four-month cumulative seroincidence was 9.8% (30 of 307). The unadjusted swine seroprevalence and seroincidence rates increased exponentially by 12.0% (95% confidence [CI] = 9.7-14.3%) and 32.8% (95% CI = 25.0-41.0%), respectively when distance to carriers decreased by half. Swine seroprevalence was 18.4% at > 500 meters from a carrier, 36.5% between 51 and 500 meters, and 68.9% within 50 meters (P < 0.001). Swine seroincidence also displayed a strong gradient near tapeworm carriers (3.8%, 12.2%, and 44.0%; P < 0.001). Within 50 meters, swine seroprevalence appeared unaffected if the owners harbored tapeworms, although pigs owned by a tapeworm carrier had a four times higher seroincidence compared with other pigs (P = 0.005). In rural areas, swine cysticercosis occurs in high-risk hotspots around carriers where control interventions could be delivered.
Taenia solium causes human neurocysticercosis and is endemic in underdeveloped countries where backyard pig keeping is common. Microscopic fecal diagnostic methods for human T. solium taeniasis are not very sensitive, and Taenia saginata and Taenia solium eggs are indistinguishable under the light microscope. Coproantigen (CoAg) ELISA methods are very sensitive, but currently only genus (Taenia) specific. This paper describes the development of a highly species-specific coproantigen ELISA test to detect T. solium intestinal taeniasis. Sensitivity was maintained using a capture antibody of rabbit IgG against T. solium adult whole worm somatic extract, whereas species specificity was achieved by utilization of an enzyme-conjugated rabbit IgG against T. solium adult excretory-secretory (ES) antigen. A known panel of positive and negative human fecal samples was tested with this hybrid sandwich ELISA. The ELISA test gave 100% specificity and 96.4% sensitivity for T. solium tapeworm carriers (N = 28), with a J index of 0.96. This simple ELISA incorporating anti-adult somatic and anti-adult ES antibodies provides the first potentially species-specific coproantigen test for human T. solium taeniasis.
Abstract. We present findings describing the epidemiology of non-severe acute respiratory syndrome human coronavirus-associated influenza-like illness from a population-based active follow-up study in four different regions of Peru. In 2010, the prevalence of infections by human coronaviruses 229E, OC43, NL63, or HKU1 was 6.4% in participants with influenza-like illness who tested negative for influenza viruses. Ten of 11 human coronavirus infections were identified in the fall-winter season. Human coronaviruses are present in different regions of Peru and are relatively frequently associated with influenza-like illness in Peru.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations –citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.