Seroepidemiological evidence for Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis in three Venezuelan rural communities

Abstract

Taenia solium is the most common parasite infection of the brain, causing neurocysticercosis and typically found in rural communities with free-ranging pigs. Identification of transmission in rural areas is essential for its control. Risk factors and transmission of the parasite were evaluated in three rural Venezuelan communities (Valle del Rio and Potrero Largo, Cojedes state; and Palmarito, Portuguesa state) by a questionnaire (112 households) and coprological (492 samples) and serological (433 human and 230 porcine sera) analysis, respectively. Typical risk factors were found in all three communities: free-foraging pig husbandry, deficient sanitary conditions, high open defecation and ignorance of the parasite life cycle. Coprological examinations revealed a high level of soil-transmitted parasites. Importantly, two T. solium adult worm carriers were identified in each of the three communities. Anti-metacestode antibodies and the HP10 secreted metacestode glycoprotein were detected at significant levels in human and porcine sera in Valle del Rio, Potrero Largo and Palmarito. In conclusion, these communities may be considered to be endemic for taeniasis/cysticercosis, and the instigation of an appropriate control programme is recommended.

Influencia De La Altitud Sobre La Prevalencia De Cisticercosis en Regiones Biogeográficas De Ecuador. Revisión Sistemática

“…Se observó un nivel considerable de parásitos transmitidos por el suelo, y se evidenciaron dos portadores adultos con T. solium en cada una de las tres comunidades. Se encontraron niveles significativos de anticuerpos antimetastodo y de la glicoproteína metacestodo secretada HP10 en sueros, tanto humanos como porcinos, indicando que estas comunidades pueden considerarse endémicas de teniasis/cisticercosis (Cortez et al, 2020).…”