[Prevalence of Taenia solium antibodies in humans and in pigs in an endemic area of Colombia].
BACKGROUND
Cysticercosis (CC) caused by Taenia solium in humans and in pigs is endemic in many rural communities in developing countries. The use of Western blot assays (WB) to determine T. solium antibodies has become the best serological tool available to date for identifying positive individuals in field conditions.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of T. solium antibodies in humans and in pigs in two rural communities in Antioquia, Colombia.


METHODS
Serological identification of humans and pigs with T. solium antibodies was performed using WB assays in two communities in Ituango, Antioquia. During the study, demographic variables, housing and health conditions were taken into account. Contingency tables were drawn up using c2 to compare the proportion of seronegative individuals and seropositive individuals with headache, fainting or convulsions.


RESULTS
The prevalence of human and porcine CC obtained was 2.23 and 6.82% in Pascuita and 1.17 and 2.33% in Guacharaquero, both respectively. Of the 11 WB positive patients evaluated by imaging techniques, two individuals were found to have single calcifications in the TAC scan and RMI showed another to have an unspecified lesion. The prevalence of infection in humans and in pigs in two rural communities in the north of the district of Antioquia, Colombia, shows that CC is endemic and that steps must be taken to control it.
Agudelo Florez
P
P
Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia. ineurolo@epm.net.co
Palacio
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LG
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013552:Swine; D041201:Taenia solium / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies
Prevalencia de anticuerpos para Taenia solium en humanos y cerdos en una zona endémica colombiana.