Risk factors associated with taeniasis-cysticercosis in Lagamar, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Abstract

An epidemiological survey was carried out in 3,344 people of an urban town in Lagamar, Minas Gerais, Brazil--during 1992-1993, to evaluate the main risk factors related to taeniasis and cysticercosis. A total number of 875 (78.9%) houses were visited and 1080 (32.3%) subjects were clinically examined. Poor sanitary conditions were positively associated with former history of taeniasis or seizures in households (p < 0.05). It was remarkable the positive relationship between taeniasis and seizures when households were questioned and subjects were clinically evaluated (p < 0.05). The relative risk of seizures was 2.3 between households and 1.7 for individuals clinically examined respectively. The breeding of swine nearby and the chronic carriers of taeniasis are determinant factors in the maintenance of the epidemiological link between taeniasis and cysticercosis in endemic areas.

Neurocysticercosis: risk and primary prevention strategies update

“…household latrine), allowing pigs access to human feces (either intentionally or not), poor hygiene, lack of potable water supply, and the presence of Taenia spp. eggs in kitchen soil were associated with porcine cysticercosis, human cysticercosis (including NCC) or taeniasis Sarti-G et al 1992;Cao et al 1997;Sa´nchez et al 1998;Silva-Vergara et al 1998;Rodriquez-Canul et al 1999;Carrique-Mas et al 2001;Pouedet et al 2002;Ngowi et al 2004;Boa et al 2006;Morales et al 2006;Prasad et al 2007;Huerta et al 2008;. In two studies, one conducted in El Salvador and one in Vietnam, the use of human biosolids in agricultural applications was associated with parasite infection and, therefore, has potential significance to the incidental ingestion of T. solium eggs where present (Humphries et al 1997;Corrales et al 2006).…”

“…eggs (when used in home gardens -in Lagamar, Brazil, for example, 689 households, or 64% of the study population, regularly ate raw vegetables grown in backyards (Silva-Vergara et al 1998) or in fields by agricultural workers) (Humphries et al 1997;Corrales et al 2006), (3) the incidental ingestion of contaminated soil/dust by adults -while daily ingestion rates among US adults, for example, have been estimated to range from 50 mg/dy (central estimate, normal activities) to 480 mg/dy (contact intensive, outdoor work) (U.S. EPA 1991EPA , 1997, intake rates may be higher among families who have poor hygiene, live in homes with earthen floors, and raise pigs, and (4) the direct ingestion of contaminated soil by children -in the US geophagia (i.e. earth-eating) has been estimated to occur in 416-19% of children who may ingest up to 5,000-10,000 mg of soil per event (U.S. EPA 1997); geophagia has also been documented among adult and pregnant women of Mexican (Klitzman et al 2002) and Central American descent (Hunter and de Kleien 1984).…”

“…Risks are greatest among the rural poor in communities where domesticated animals are reared for personal and local consumption (Cao et al 1997;Sa´nchez et al 1998;Silva-Vergara et al 1998;Garcia et al 1999). Major risk factors associated with animal husbandry are outdoor farming, allowing animals to free-range, and using pigpens as toilets/allowing pigs to feed on human feces (Table A1) (Rodriquez-Canul et al 1998;Rodriquez-Canul et al 1999;Sciutto et al 2000;Widdowson et al 2000;Pouedet et al 2002;Miranda 2003;Sciutto et al 2003;Morales et al 2006;Sikasunge et al 2007;Sapkota 2008).…”

Interleukin-5 and interleukin-10 are major cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with active neurocysticercosis

“…The disease is caused by the encysted larvae of the tapeworm Taenia solium lodged in the central nervous system (CNS). In the same communities, teniasis is a public health problem with a frequency of family antecedents reaching 34.2% in some regions (4).…”

Ocorrência de ovos de helmintos em hortaliças comercializadas na cidade de Apucarana (PR)

“…nas duas variedades de vegetais. O ovo de T. solium quando ingerido pode causar cisticercose humana, com quadros de convulsões e hipertensão intracraniana entre outros (SILVA-VERGARA et al, 1998). O porco e o boi são hospedeiros obrigatorios de T. solium e T. saginata, respectivamente, diante disso, possivelmente a contaminação do vegetal pode ter ocorrido com uso de excretas de bovinos ou suínos (CORTÊS, 2000).…”