Control of Taenia solium taeniasis and cysticercosis by focus-oriented chemotherapy of taeniasis

Abstract

The mortality, mortality, and disability due to Taenia solium neurocysticercosis are common and serious health problems in some regions, including several Asian countries. Neurocysticercosis in man and cysticercosis in pigs can be controlled by treatment, in man with a single, low (2 1/2 or 5 mg/kg) and safe dose of praziquantel. The problem which remains is the identification of a Taenia solium taeniasis foci. The definition of a focus is: T. solium-infected or suspected case; household with recent case of epilepsy in family or cysticercosis in pigs; group of houses or a village with high rate of cysticercosis in pigs. In a rural area a focus can be easily identified by tracing infected pigs to their place of origin, or in vivo tongue examination. All people with suspected T. solium taeniasis in a focus should be treated.