Taeniosis–cysticercosis in man and animals in the Sierra of Northern Ecuador

Abstract

Taenia solium is endemic in the Andean region of Ecuador. The recent rediscovery of Taenia saginata in humans urges to reconsider some assumptions in relation to the epidemiology of the taeniosis/cysticercosis complex in this country.Therefore, data were compiled on the infection of both tapeworms in man and animals in Pichincha and Imbabura provinces in the Andean region, north of Quito. On post mortem inspection 3 out of 806 (0.37%) carcasses had T. saginata metacestodes, however, 35 sera out of 869 (4.03%) showed circulating antigen in a monoclonal antibody-based sandwich ELISA (Ag-ELISA). Porcine cysticercosis was detected in 15 out of 2896 (0.52%) carcasses and 93 out of 1032 serum samples (9.01%) were positive in Ag-ELISA. In humans, 4.99% (215 out of 4306) cases of antigen positives were found, whereas coprological examination of 1935 stools resulted in 30 positive cases (1.55%). The limited number of adult tapeworms (29) that were collected does not allow firm conclusions on the proportion of each species, but in total 21 specimen were identified as T. saginata and 8 as T. solium. These data have been discussed in view of the epidemiology of human cysticercosis.

Taeniasis-cysticercosis in Southern Ecuador: assessment of infection status using multiple laboratory diagnostic tools

“…Taeniasis was detected in 1.46% of the human population by microscopic examination; which is slightly higher than the results from similar studies in the North of Ecuador (Rodriguez-Hidalgo et al 2003). However, all Taenia in this study were identified as T. solium whereas in the North only eight out of 29 worms collected were T. solium, the other 21 worms being identified as T. saginata.…”

“…These conditions are common in the Andes, including Ecuador, where T. solium infections are endemic. Rodriguez-Hidalgo et al (2003) carried out a survey in Imbabura, in the North of Ecuador where the temperate climatic conditions allow keeping pigs in farming conditions characterised by tethering or corralling. In this region, the prevalence of taeniasis and cysticercosis in humans was 1.05 and 5.11%, respectively.…”

“…While Rodriguez-Hidalgo et al (2003) used antigen detection to determine cysticercosis prevalence, most studies in Latin America used antibody detection for immunodiagnosis (e.g. Gonzalez et al 1990, Diaz et al 1992, Garcia Noval et al 1996, Sanchez et al 1997, Goodman et al 1999, Garcia et al 2003, Cruz-Licea et al 2003, PrestesCarneiro et al 2006.…”

Evidence that active transmission of porcine cysticercosis occurs in Venezuela

“…The seroprevalence of porcine cysticercosis recorded in this study by Ag-ELISA was similar to the 57.4% previously reported for a rural community in Venezuela ), the 56.6% reported for Zambia (Phiri et al 2003) and the 40.6-54.8% reported for South Africa (Krecek et al 2008) but higher than the 9.01% and 37.4% reported, respectively, for Ecuador and Bolivia (Rodríguez-Hidalgo et al 2003;Carrique-Mas et al 2001), the 11.0% and 27.7% reported in West Cameroon (Pouedet et al 2002;Shey-Njila et al 2003) or the 23.3% latterly reported in Zambia by Sikasunge et al 2008. As judged by the enzyme immunotransfer blot technique (EITB), seroprevalence for porcine cysticercosis of 5.2%, 35.0% and 29% (Sarti et al 1997;Rodriguez-Canul et al 1999;Widdowson et al 2000); 43.0%, 42.0-75.0% and 65.0% (Garcia et al 1999Moro et al 2003) and 3.2%, 4.4% and 23.5% (Sakai et al 2001) have been reported for, respectively, Mexico, Peru and Brazil.…”

Epidemiological survey of the taeniasis/cysticercosis complex in cattle farms in Viçosa County, Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Licea et al (2003) investigated cases of taeniasis and cysticercosis among food traders in a Mexican city and found 58 cases (50.4%) of intestinal parasites by investigating for eggs, but no cases of taeniasis. Rodríguez-Hidalgo et al (2003) were also unable to find any cases of taeniasis in an Ecuador population even though there were 30 cases (1.55%) of other intestinal parasites identified. Ramos Jr et al (2004) performed an epidemiological survey of cysticercosis and human taeniasis in João Costa County, Piauí, Brazil, using the same diagnostic method and identified 360 cases (51.4%) of intestinal parasites, from which only one (0.15) was taeniasis.…”