Currently Available Monitoring and Surveillance Systems for Taenia spp., Echinococcus spp., Schistosoma spp., and Soil-Transmitted Helminths at the Control/Elimination Stage: A Systematic Review

Abstract

An increasing global focus on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) has resulted in the set up of numerous control and elimination activities worldwide. This is partly true for Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis, the most important foodborne parasitic infection. Despite substantial progress, adequate monitoring and surveillance (M&S) are required to sustain a status of control/elimination. This is often lacking, especially for T. solium. Therefore, the objective was to conduct a systematic literature review of the currently available M&S systems at the control/elimination stage of the four top-ranked helminth NTDs. Specifically, Taenia spp., Echinococcus spp., Schistosoma spp., and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) were considered to determine if there are any similarities between their M&S systems and whether certain approaches can be adopted from each other. The systematic review demonstrated that rigorous M&S systems have been designed for the control/elimination stage of both STHs and schistosomiasis, particularly in China. On the other hand, a concept of M&S for Taenia spp. and Echinococcus spp. has not been fully developed yet, due to a lack of epidemiological data and the fact that many endemic countries are far away from reaching control/elimination. Moreover, accurate diagnostic tools for all four diseases are still imperfect, which complicates proper M&S. Finally, there is an urgent need to develop and harmonize/standardize M&S activities in order to reliably determine and compare the epidemiological situation worldwide.

Trial Design for a Diagnostic Accuracy Study of a Point-of-Care Test for the Detection of Taenia solium Taeniosis and (Neuro)Cysticercosis in Community Settings of Highly Endemic, Resource-Poor Areas in Zambia: Challenges and Rationale

“…A rapid test with high sensitivity is thus particularly useful for control programs against T. solium , allowing selective chemotherapy of people who test T positive during screening. Besides its usefulness in control programs, the simultaneous detection of T and CC also makes the TS POC test a valuable tool for epidemiological research, and to monitor the effectiveness of interventions of control or elimination programs [ 18 ].…”

Zoonotic Parasites and Food Safety: the Case of Taenia Solium

“…We can reduce the incidence of taeniasis and cysticercosis by disrupting the lifecycle of T. solium by enhancing food safety measures. In this chapter, we will examine in detail the role of food safety in controlling T. solium transmission, as well as the steps required for safe swine production and the significance of public education and awareness (Saelens and Gabriël 2020).…”

Antihelmintic Treatment And Strategy To Eliminate Soil-Transmitted Helminth In Children

“…A major step forward in this regard was the establishment of an international database, regularly updated, providing open access to all verified research data. 22 It is also noted that diagnostic tools must be developed in response to epidemiological changes of STH transmission levels in the era of preventive chemotherapy, thus urging researchers to develop a new STH diagnostic tool. 23…”