Abstract:To determine the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis, a survey was carried out in 27 villages belonging to two rural communities of West-Cameroon (Bafou and Bamendou). Between January and August 2000, a total of 707 pigs were examined serologically and by tongue inspection. Serum samples were examined for circulating parasite antigen using a monoclonal antibody-based sandwich enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA) and for antibodies against cysticerci (Ab-ELISA). Seventy-eight samples (11.0%) were found positive in the Ag-ELISA and 154 (21.8%) in the Ab-ELISA, while by tongue inspection on the same animals cysticerci were detected in forty-three pigs (6.1%). Gibbs Sampling using results of these three tests indicated that the estimated prevalence of porcine cysticercosis was 10.9 %. Analysis of the Ag-ELISA results demonstrated that adult pigs showed a significantly higher seroprevalence (15%) than young ones (8.4%). There was no statistical difference in cysticercosis prevalence in pigs raised in households with or without a latrine. Animals that were reported to be usually confined were significantly less infected (9.9%) than free roaming pigs (16.2%). Infection rates were significantly higher in pigs that had access to human faeces (13.8%) than those which did not have access (9.1%). This study has identified some community behavioural and environmental practices that should be modified to prevent continuous transmission of porcine cysticercosis.

Abstract:A study was carried out in two villages and one marketplace of the Batibo subdivision in North-West Cameroon to determine the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis. The results showed that 4.44% of 383 pigs were positive at tongue examination whereas ELISA detected circulating antigens in 27.7% of 271 pig sera. A questionnaire survey in 140 pig raising households indicated that 59.3% of them lacked latrines while in 75.7% of the households members defecated directly into pigpens. The seroprevalence of porcine cysticercosis was significantly higher in households without latrines than in those with latrines. Similarly, significantly more seropositive pigs were present in households that defecated in the pig pens (35.5%) than in those that did not (14.4%). Although 91.4% of pig raising households did know of pig cysticercosis, only 28.6% were aware of the link with human taeniasis and only 10.7% were aware of human cysticercosis.

Abstract:The frequency of Taenia solium cysticercosis was studied in a series of 504 epileptic patients from 3 rural localities in the West and North-west provinces of Cameroon using ELISA both for circulating antigen (Ag-Elisa) and antibody detection (Ab-Elisa). T. solium antigens were detected in the sera of 1.2% of the epileptics whereas specific antibodies against the parasite were present in 44.6% of patients. Significantly more seropositives in Ab-Elisa were recorded in Batibo than in Bandjoun and Batibo whereas a borderline significant difference was recorded with increasing age. Furthermore, 50% of patients with late-onset epilepsy showed antibodies against cysticercosis. T. solium cysticercosis appears to be an important cause of epilepsy in Cameroon.

Summary:Seven patients with active neurocysticercosis (NCC) received an eight days treatment with albendazole and were followed up using computed tomography (CT-scan) and a monoclonal antibody based ELISA for the detection of circulating antigen (Ag-ELISA). Only three patients were cured as was shown by CT-scan and by the disappearance of circulating antigens one month after treatment. After a second course of albendazole therapy, two other patients became seronegative. CT-scan showed the disappearance of viable cysts in all persons who became seronegative whereas patients who were not cured remained seropositive. These preliminary results show that this Ag-ELISA is a promising technique for monitoring the success of treatment of NCC patients because of the excellent correlation between the presence of circulating antigens and of viable brain cysts.

Une étude menée de mai à octobre 1999 dans le département du Mayo- Danay (extrême nord du Cameroun) et dans la préfecture du Mayo-Kebbi (sud-ouest du Tchad) a eu pour but de déterminer la prévalence de la cysticercose porcine et d’identifier les principaux facteurs qui la favorisaient. Elle a montré que les conditions hygiéniques dans lesquelles vivait la population ainsi que celles de l’élevage des porcs étaient très médiocres, avec pour conséquence des infestations massives de la population porcine par des cysticerques de Taenia solium. En effet, 42 p. 100 des 126 exploitations visitées étaient dépourvues de latrines et les porcs, en divagation permanente ou semi-permanente, avaient facilement accès aux matières fécales humaines déposées aux alentours des habitations. Le diagnostic clinique effectué par la méthode du langueyage a montré que 20,5 p. 100 des 852 porcs vivants examinés étaient porteurs de cysticerques. L’inspection des carcasses réalisée dans les abattoirs locaux a révélé que 15,7 p. 100 des 51 porcs abattus étaient ladres. Parmi les 264 sérums de porcs soumis au test Elisa pour la détection des antigènes circulants de cysticerques, 105 (39,8 p. 100) se sont révélés positifs. Ces résultats ont indiqué que le Mayo-Danay et le Mayo-Kebbi étaient d’importants foyers de la cysticercose porcine à Taenia solium.