Control of Taenia solium cysticercosis/taeniosis

Abstract

Cysticercosis is emerging as a serious public health and agricultural problem in many poorer countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Caused by the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, this zoonotic disease forms larval cysts in humans and pigs that can lead to epilepsy and death in humans, reduces the market value of pigs and makes pork unsafe to eat. It occurs where pigs range freely, sanitation is poor, and meat inspection is absent or inadequate, and is thus strongly associated with poverty and smallholder farming. Although theoretically easy to control and declared eradicable cysticercosis remains neglected in most endemic countries due to lack of information and awareness about the extent of the problem, suitable diagnostic and management capacity, and appropriate prevention and control strategies. Human neurocysticercosis occurs when the larval cysts develop in the brain. It is considered to be the most common parasitic infection of the human nervous system and the most frequent preventable cause of epilepsy in the developing world. Thus far the infection has not been eliminated from any region by a specific program, and no national control programs are yet in place. We consider the tools available for combating cysticercosis and suggest simple packages of interventions, which can be conducted utilizing existing services and structures in the endemic countries to provide appropriate and sustainable control of the disease.