Abstract
The parasitic zoonoses human cysticercosis (Taenia solium), taeniasis (other Taenia species) and trichinellosis (Trichinella species) are endemic in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). This study was designed to quantify the economic burden pig-associated zoonotic disease pose in Lao PDR. In particular, the analysis included estimation of the losses in the pork industry as well as losses due to human illness and lost productivity. A Markov-probability based decision-tree model was chosen to form the basis of the calculations to estimate the economic and public health impacts of taeniasis, trichinellosis and cysticercosis. Two different decision trees were run simultaneously on the model’s human cohort. A third decision tree simulated the potential impacts on pig production. The human capital method was used to estimate productivity loss. The results found varied significantly depending on the rate of hospitalisation due to neurocysticerosis. This study is the first systematic estimate of the economic impact of pig-associated zoonotic diseases in Lao PDR that demonstrates the significance of the diseases in that country.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bell DR (1984). Cysticercosis: a new hope. BMJ 289:857-858.
Bern C, Garcia HH, Evans C, Gonzalez AE, Verastegui M, Tsang VCW, et al. (1999). Magnitude of the Disease Burden from Neurocysticercosis in a Developing Country. Clinical Infectious Diseases 29:1203-1209.
Briggs A, and Sculpher M (1998). An introduction to Markov modelling for economic evaluation. PharmacoEconomics 13:397-409.
Carabin H, Cowan L, Nash T, and Willingham AL (2006a). Estimating the Global Burden of Taenia solium Cysticercosis/Taeniosis. in W. H. Organisation, editor. WHO Consultation to Develop a Strategy to Estimate the Global Burden of Foodborne Diseases, 25-27 September 2006. WHO, Geneva.
Carabin H, Krecek RC, Cowan LD, Michael L, Foyaca-Sibat H, Nash T, et al. (2006b). Estimation of the cost of Taenia solium cysticercosis in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Trop Med Int Health 11:906-916.
Conlan J (2010a) Enquiry on Pork Prices. Personal communication
Conlan J (2010b). Pharmaceutical Prices Enquiry. Personal communication
Conlan J, Khounsy S, Inthavong P, Fenwick S, Blacksell S, and Thompson RCA (2008). A review of taeniasis and cysticercosis in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Parasitology International 57:252-255.
Conlan J, Sripa B, Attwood S, and Newton PN (2011). A review of parasitic zoonoses in a changing Southeast Asia. Veterinary Parasitology 182:22-40.
Conlan J, Vongxay K, Khamlome B, Dorny P, Sripa B, Elliot A, et al. (2012). A cross-sectional study of Taenia solium in a region where four Taenia species are co-endemic reveals competition may be protective. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 87:281-291.
DAFO (2008) Xam Neua Inspection Data. Personal communication
Drummond MF (2005). Methods for the economic evaluation of health care programmes, 3rd ed. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Fan PC, Chung WC, Soh CT, and Kosman ML (1992). Eating habits of East Asian people and transmission of taeniasis. Acta Tropica 50:305-315.
García HH, Gonzalez AE, Evans CAW, and Gilman RH (2003). Taenia solium cysticercosis. The Lancet 362:547-556.
Huynh TTT, Aarnink AJA, Drucker A, and Verstegen MWA (2006). Pig Production in Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, and Vietnam: A Review. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development 3:69-90.
IMF (2011). Report for Selected Countries and Subjects http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2009&ey=2016&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C558%2C513%2C564%2C514%2C853%2C516%2C566%2C522%2C862%2C924%2C813%2C819%2C524%2C534%2C578%2C536%2C537%2C826%2C866%2C544%2C869%2C548%2C846%2C556%2C582%2C518&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a=&pr1.x=64&pr1.y=12. Accessed on 20/07/2011
Khamlome B (2010). Hospital Data. Personal communication
Lao Department of Statistics (2009). Survey results on expenditure and consumption of household 2007/2008. Ministry of Planning and Investment, Vientiane City.
Majorowski MM, Carabin H, Kilani M, and Bensalah A (2005). Echinococcosis in Tunisia: a cost analysis. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 99:268-278.
Praet N, Geerts S, Nforninwe DN, Berkvens D, Quet F, Preux PM et al (2009a) The disease burden of Taenia solium Cysticercosis in Cameroon. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 3:e406.
Rajkotia Y, Lescano AG, Gilman RH, Cornejo C, Garcia HH (2007). Economic burden of neurocysticercosis: results from Peru. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 101:840-846.
Rajshekhar V, Joshi DD, Doanh NQ, van De N, and Xiaonong Z (2003a). Taenia solium taeniosis/cysticercosis in Asia: epidemiology, impact and issues. Acta Trop 87:53-60.
Takumi K, Teunis P, Fonville M, Vallee I, Boireau P, Nockler K, et al. (2009). Transmission risk of human trichinellosis. Vet Parasitol 159:324-327.
Vázquez-Flores S, Ballesteros-Rodea G, Flisser A, and Schantz PM (2001). Hygiene and restraint of pigs is associated with absence of Taenia solium cysticercosis in a rural community of Mexico. Salud Pública de México 43:574-576.
WHO (2010). Country Cooperation Strategy at a glance: Lao People’s Democratic Republic. WHO, Geneva.
World Food Program (2011) Composition of the Lao Food Basket http://foodsecurityatlas.org/lao/country/utilization/food-consumption. Accessed on 19/05/11
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the study participants from northern Laos and the national, provincial, and district staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Health for their support and valued contributions to this study, Lapinh Phithacthep, Vilaywan Soukvilay, Vilayphet Viravong (National Animal Health Centre); and Virasack Som, Thongchan Sisouk, and Khouanta Douangmala (National Centre for Laboratory and Epidemiology). We would also like to thank Dr Rattanaphone Phetsouvanh, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR for data on hospital costs. This study was supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (Project No. AH2006/161). SDB is funded by the Wellcome Trust of the United Kingdom.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Choudhury, A.A.K., Conlan, J.V., Racloz, V.N. et al. The Economic Impact of Pig-Associated Parasitic Zoonosis in Northern Lao PDR. EcoHealth 10, 54–62 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-013-0821-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-013-0821-y