Sero-epidemiological study of Taenia saginata cysticercosis in Belgian cattle.
A sero-epidemiological survey of Taenia saginata cysticercosis was carried out to determine the prevalence of the infection in cattle presented for slaughter in Belgium. Between November 1997 and June 1998, a total of 1164 serum samples were collected in 20 export abattoirs. Meat inspection was routinely carried out by veterinary inspectors. Serum samples were examined for circulating parasite antigen using a monoclonal antibody-based sandwich enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA). Thirty six serum samples (3.09%) were found positive in the Ag-ELISA, while by meat inspection on the same animals cysticerci were detected in only three carcasses (0.26%). Sero-prevalence was positively correlated with the age of the animals. The sero-prevalence found in this study was more than 10 times higher than the annual prevalence (0.26%) reported by the Institute for Veterinary Inspection. This study clearly indicates that the classical meat inspection techniques detect only a minor fraction of the carcasses infected with cysticerci.
Dorny
P
P
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. pdorny@itg.be
Vercammen
F
F
Brandt
J
J
Vansteenkiste
W
W
Berkvens
D
D
Geerts
S
S
D000003:Abattoirs; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005513:Food Inspection; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013621:Taenia / Q000254:growth & development*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000947:Antigens, Helminth