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. 2015 Jun 12:8:323.
doi: 10.1186/s13071-015-0938-7.

Taenia solium taeniosis/cysticercosis and the co-distribution with schistosomiasis in Africa

Uffe Christian Braae  1 , Christopher F L Saarnak  2 , Samson Mukaratirwa  3 , Brecht Devleesschauwer  4   5 , Pascal Magnussen  6   7 , Maria Vang Johansen  8
Affiliations

Taenia solium taeniosis/cysticercosis and the co-distribution with schistosomiasis in Africa

Uffe Christian Braae et al. Parasit Vectors. .

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to map the distribution of Taenia solium taeniosis/cysticercosis and the co-distribution with schistosomiasis in Africa. These two major neglected tropical diseases are presumed to be widely distributed in Africa, but currently the level of co-distribution is unclear.

Methods: A literature search on T. solium taeniosis/cysticercosis was performed to compile all known studies on the presence of T. solium and apparent prevalence of taeniosis and porcine cysticercosis in Africa. Studies were geo-referenced using an online gazetteer. A Bayesian framework was used to combine the epidemiological data on the apparent prevalence with external information on test characteristics to estimate informed district-level prevalence of taeniosis and porcine cysticercosis. Districts with T. solium taeniosis/cysticercosis presence were cross-referenced with the Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Database for schistosomiasis presence.

Results: The search strategies identified 141 reports of T. solium in Africa from 1985 to 2014 from a total of 476 districts in 29 countries, 20 with porcine cysticercosis, 22 with human cysticercosis, and 16 with taeniosis, in addition to 2 countries identified from OIE reports. All 31 countries were considered, on national scale, to have co-distribution with schistosomiasis. Presence of both parasites was confirmed in 124 districts in 17 countries. The informed prevalence of taeniosis and porcine cysticercosis were estimated for 14 and 41 districts in 10 and 13 countries, respectively.

Conclusions: With the paucity of data, T. solium infection is grossly under-reported and expected to be more widespread than this study suggests. In areas where co-distribution occurs there is a need for increased emphasis on evaluation of integrated intervention approaches for these two helminth infections and allocation of resources for evaluating the extent of adverse effects caused by mass drug administration.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Diagram of literature search and countries where the studies were carried out
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Flow chart of the selection of literature for the informed prevalence estimations
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
African countries and districts where Taenia solium taeniosis/cysticercosis has been confirmed from 1985 to 2014
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
African pig population per capita on a national level in 2011. National pig populations were obtained from census reports or FAOSTAT
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Co-distribution of Taenia solium infections in humans and/or pigs and schistosomiasis in Africa based on studies from 1985 to 2014
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Informed prevalence of taeniosis in Africa from 1983 to 2010
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Informed prevalence of porcine cysticercosis in Africa from 1985 to 2013
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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