Pesq. Vet. Bras. 32(10):975-979, outubro 2012 975 RESUMO.-A cisticercose bovina é um problema de saúde pública e animal amplamente difundido no Brasil, que repercute negativamente na produção de carne em diversos estados do país. Trata-se de uma das afecções mais ocorrentes nos abates sob inspeção sanitária tornando-se motivo de preocupação para frigoríϐicos e produtores, devido os prejuízos que acarreta. Pouco se conhece sobre a distribuição e a evolução do número de casos de cisticercose bovina no estado do Paraná. Diante do exposto este trabaDistribuição e identiϐicação das regiões de risco para a cisticercose bovina no Estado do Paraná

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 33(4): 449-452, abril 2013 449 RESUMO.-[Inquérito epidemiológico sobre o complexo teníase-cisticercose bovina no município de Viçosa, Minas Gerais.] Apesar da importância do complexo teníase--cisticercose bovina para a saúde pública, animal e para a economia, a realidade epidemiológica da ocorrência dessas zoonoses no Brasil é pouco conhecida. Este estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar o perfil epidemiológico desta zoonose na zona rural do município de Viçosa, MG. A prevalência encontrada de cisticercose bovina foi de 0,42%, e nenhum caso de teníase humana foi diagnosticado. Foi ve- Despite the importance of human taeniasis/bovine cysticercosis for public and animal health and the economy, its actual epidemiological status in Brazil is not well-studied. We sought to assess the epidemiological profile of this zoonosis in the rural area of Viçosa County, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The prevalence of bovine cysticercosis was 0.42%, whereas no case of human taeniasis was diagnosed. Factors favoring the persistence of zoonosis were identified. These included the supply of untreated water to animals, animals raised for slaughter without sanitary supervision, poor mechanization of raising techniques, and the use of untreated water for human consumption. Bovine meat for human consumption acquired in the city or from the farm itself was characterized as a risk factor for bovine cysticercosis (Odds Ratio (OR) =16.77; p<0.05). Nevertheless, the families on the investigated farms did apply several appropriate measures to control this disease, such as the virtual lack of open sewers and the consumption of well-cooked meat. The presence of bovine cysticercosis cases, and the factors favoring its persistence, point to the need for constant epidemiological and sanitary surveillance in this county.

This study focused on estimating the herd-level and animal-level prevalences, and identifying risk factors associated with bovine cysticercosis in the State of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. The state was divided into three sampling strata: Sertao, Borborema and Zona da Mata/Agreste. For each sampling stratum, herd-level and animal-level prevalences were estimated by a two-stage sampling survey. First, a pre-established number of herds (primary sampling units) were randomly selected; second, within each herd a pre-established number of cows aged ≥24months were systematically selected (secondary sampling units). Ten animals were sampled in herds with up to 99 cows aged over 24 months; 15 animals were sampled in herds with 100 or more cows aged over 24 months; and all animals were sampled in those with up to 10 cows aged over 24 months. In total, 2382 animals were sampled from 474 herds. Serological diagnosis was initially performed by the indirect ELISA, and positive sera were confirmed by immunoblot. A herd was deemed positive if it included at least one positive animal in herds of up to 29 females, and two positive animals in herds with more than 29 females. The herd-level prevalence in the State of Paraíba was 10.8% (95% CI=8.1%-14.1%), 10.3% (95% CI=6.4%-16.1%) in the region of Sertão, 6.9% (95% CI=3.9%-12.1%) in Borborema, and 13.8% (95% CI=9.3%-20.2%) in Agreste/Zona da Mata. The animal-level prevalence was 2.3% (95% CI=1.6%-3.3%) in the State of Paraíba, 1.4% (95% CI=0.8%-2.5%) in Sertão, 3.6% (95% CI=1.7%-7.4%) in Borborema, and 3.2% (95% CI=1.9%-5.4%) in Agreste/Zona da Mata. The risk factors identified were as follows: animal purchasing (OR=2.19) and presence of flooded pastures (OR=1.99). Our findings suggest that bovine cysticercosis herd-level seroprevalence in the State of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil, is high, and support the idea that prevention measures should be applied at herd level and farmers should restrict the access of their cattle to flooded pastures.

Bovine cysticercosis is a zoonotic infection widely spread throughout Brazil, creating a burden on hygiene maintenance and the economy. Diagnosis of cysticercosis usually relies on post mortem inspection of carcasses in slaughterhouses. This detection method provides only low sensitivity. Recent advancements have improved the performance of serologic tests, such as ELISA, providing greater sensitivity and specificity. The objective of the current study was to identify and evaluate a synthetic peptide derived from the Taenia saginata 18kDa oncospheric surface protein for the diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis in ELISA. Test performance of the identified peptide was compared to an ELISA based on a heterologous crude Taenia crassiceps antigen (Tcra), widely used for the sero-diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis. Based on the primary sequence of an in silico structural model of the 18kDa protein, an epitope region designated EP1 was selected (46-WDTKDMAGYGVKKIEV-61). The peptide derived from this region yielded 91.6% (CI=80-96%) sensitivity and 90% (CI=82-95%) specificity when used in an ELISA, whereas the crude antigen yielded 70% (CI=56-8%) sensitivity and 82% (CI=73-89%) specificity. Thus, we conclude that EP1 has higher diagnostic potential for detecting bovine cysticercosis than the crude antigen Tcra.

Bovine cysticercosis is a worldwide distributed zoonosis caused by the larval form of Taenia saginata present in bovine muscles. The diagnosis is based on the postmortem inspection at slaughterhouses and consists of the macroscopic visualization of lesions caused by cysticercosis in muscle sites. However, parasitized animals can pass unnoticed during sanitary inspection. Thus, the objective of this study was to characterize and evaluate the performance of different peptides from different regions of T. saginata for the cysticercosis diagnosis using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We generated and evaluated a new recombinant protein chimera derived from the fusion of different peptides. We selected three distinct regions of T. saginata and predicted six peptides with antigenic potential (EP2–EP7). These peptides were analyzed individually and selected for generating a new chimeric recombinant protein. The new protein was termed rqTSA-25, and its performance rates were: 93.3% sensitivity (confidence interval (CI) = 76–98%), 95.3% specificity (CI = 82–99%), 93% positive predictive value (CI = 76–98%), 95% negative predictive value (CI = 82–99%), and 95% accuracy. In the immunoblot, this protein showed no false positive or false negative reaction. Thus, the use of rqTSA-25 is recommended for the diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis.