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Evidence that active transmission of porcine cysticercosis occurs in Venezuela

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Abstract

There is a paucity of quantitative data on the status of porcine cysticercosis in Venezuela, information which is essential for understanding the level of disease transmission. This study was, therefore, conducted in a typical small rural community in Yaracuy State, Venezuela, where previous cases of human Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis had been reported and where the free-ranging pig management practices and the lack of rudimentary sanitary facilities indicated an obvious risk for transmission of the disease. Serum samples from 52 village pigs were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for anti-cysticercal antibodies (Ab-ELISA), using T. solium cyst fluid as the antigen and the HP10, monoclonal antibody-based, antigen trapping ELISA for parasite antigen (HP10 Ag-ELISA). Significantly, a high proportion of the animals (65.4% for the Ab-ELISA and 42.3% for the HP10 Ag-ELISA) were sero-positive. Five of the pigs, which were selected on that basis of positive tongue palpation, were killed for autopsy, and large numbers of viable cysticerci were found in the carcases. This unequivocal documentation of porcine cysticercosis in Venezuelan pigs presents clear evidence that T. solium is actively transmitted in Venezuela. Further detailed studies and implementation of appropriate control measures are therefore indicated.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the assistance of Mrs. D. Bryce and Mr. S.H. Wright, University of Edinburgh, for their assistance in the supply, preparation and titration of the HP10 Ag-ELISA reagents. This work was carried out with partial financial support of Consejo de Desarrollo Cientifico y Humanistico de la Universidad de Carabobo (CDCH-UC) and Facultad de Agronomia, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Maracay, Venezuela.

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Correspondence to Maria M. Cortez Alcobedes or R. Michael E. Parkhouse.

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Cortez Alcobedes, M.M., Boggio, G., Guerra, M.d.L. et al. Evidence that active transmission of porcine cysticercosis occurs in Venezuela. Trop Anim Health Prod 42, 531–537 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9456-y

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