title: Epidemiology of taeniasis and cysticercosis in a Peruvian village. The Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru.
abstract: To determine the prevalence of cysticercosis in a rural area where the disease is endemic, the authors studied the seroepidemiology of human and porcine cysticercosis in a Peruvian jungle community (Maceda, Peru) in 1988 using an enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) assay. Of the 371 sampled inhabitants, 30 (8%) were seropositive, most of whom were asymptomatic. After niclosamide therapy, four Taenia species worms were identified in the seropositive group, compared with one in the control group (p = 0.06). Pigs were frequently infected: 44 of 133 (33%) were found positive for Taenia by tongue examination and 57 of 133 (43%) were positive by EITB. In 69% of the sampled households that had pigs, there was at least one seropositive pig. The number of pigs diagnosed positive by the tongue examination was significantly greater in households that had latrines than in those that did not. Cysticercosis is a common but usually asymptomatic infection that affects both humans and pigs in the high jungle areas of Peru.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gilman
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Pilcher
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Vasquez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lescano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carcamo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D004777:Environment; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D013622:Taeniasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000662:veterinary*