Prevalence and Risk Factors of Porcine Cysticercosis in Angónia District, Mozambique

Abstract

Taenia solium is an important zoonosis in many developing countries. Cysticercosis poses a serious public health risk and incurs sizeable economic losses to pig production. Because data on the epidemiology of porcine cysticercosis in Mozambique are scarce, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors for porcine cysticercosis. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 11 villages in Angónia district, Tete province in northwestern Mozambique. Between September and November, 2007, a total of 661 pigs were tested serologically and examined by tongue inspection. Serum samples were tested for the presence of circulating parasite antigen using a monoclonal antibody-based sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA). In addition, a questionnaire survey to collect information on pig production, occurrence and transmission of porcine cysticercosis, risk factors and awareness of porcine cysticercosis was conducted in the selected households from which pigs were sampled. Two hundred thirty-one samples (34.9%) were found positive by the Ag-ELISA, while by tongue inspection on the same animals cysticerci were detected in 84 pigs (12.7%). Increasing age (OR = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.13–2.37) and free-range pig husbandry system (OR = 3.81; 95% CI = 2.08–7.06) were important risk factors for porcine cysticercosis in the district. The present findings indicate that porcine cysticercosis is endemic in the region, and that increasing pig age and pig husbandry practices contribute significantly to porcine cysticercosis transmission. Further epidemiological studies on the prevalence and transmission of porcine cysticercosis in rural communities in Mozambique are needed to enable collection of more baseline data and implementation of effective control strategies within the country.

Pig farming in rural South Africa: A case study of uThukelaDistrict in KwaZulu-Natal

“…Purposive sampling was used to identify farmers who reared pigs. This was later supplemented by the snowballing sampling technique as described by Pondja et al (2010), to ensure that a reasonably representative large number of pig farmers in the study area were covered. A total of 533 respondents were interviewed in the study.…”

“…Since livestock production in KZN is constrained, it means that monogastrics that are not constrained by similar factors have the potential to become the main suppliers of meat in the province. Consequently, rearing pigs for home consumption and extra income or investment is an important activity among the rural people (Ajala, et al, 2007;Carter et al, 2013;Chimonyo, et al, 2005;Hossain et al, 2012;Kagira et al, 2010;Madzimure et al, 2012;Nakai 2011;Nissen et al, 2011;Petrus et al, 2011;Phengsavanh et al, 2010;Pondja et al, 2010). However, there are no studies that have been done to determine the role of pig farming in rural KZN.…”

Prevalence and risk factors for porcine cysticercosis in rural communities of eastern Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Records of the occurrence of the TC complex promote streamlined control measures and the use of questionnaires is an important tool for identifying risk factors (Souza et al 2013). When combined, the results of immunodiagnostic tests with those from the questionnaires provide knowledge of the disease epidemiology, thus directing the appropriate measures for its prevention and control (Pondja et al 2010).…”

Control of Taenia Solium Transmission of Taeniosis and Cysticercosis in Endemic Countries: The Roles of Continental Networks of Specialists and of Local Health Authorities

“…Although the infection disappeared in many European countries during the nineteenth century, in some Eastern European countries control was not achieved until the beginning of the twentieth century, mainly due to the improvement of their political, social and economic status. Alarming recent reports show the persistence of the endemia in Africa [1][2][3] (Table 1), as well as in the Americas [25] (Table 2) and in Asia (Table 3). None of the endemic countries has been able to eradicate Taenia solium´s Taeniosis/Cysticercosis (T/C).…”