Evidence for high seroprevalence of Taenia solium cysticercosis in individuals from three rural communities in Venezuela.
A serological study was undertaken in 1998 to evaluate levels of Taenia solium cysticercosis in 3 rural Venezuelan communities. Infection with viable metacestodes was diagnosed with a trapping enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that detects a secreted product of viable parasites. Anti-metacestode antibodies were assayed by ELISA using T. solium vesicular fluid as antigen. A total of 1254 sera was collected from 3 communities (Canoabo, Sanare, and Rio Tocuyo) where previous studies had suggested the presence of T. solium. Our results demonstrate an unusually high seroprevalence of cysticercosis, indicating an attendant risk of transmitting the disease to other areas. The seroprevalence of infection with viable cysts, as indicated by detection of circulating parasite antigen, was 9.1% in Canoabo, 6.1% in Sanare, and 5.7% in Rio Tocuyo. The corresponding frequency of antibodies to T. solium cyst antigens was 36.5% in Canoabo, 36.5% in Sanare, and 4% in Rio Tocuyo. As these communities are probably representative of many others in Venezuela, T. solium cysticercosis may be a significant public health problem and more work is certainly indicated. An important finding was that local knowledge of the disease and its transmission do not necessarily guarantee diminished disease prevalence, indicating a lack of appropriate vigilance towards disease control.
Ferrer
Elizabeth
E
Centro de Investigaciones Biomedicas BIOMED, Universidad de Carabobo, Maracay, Venezuela.
Cabrera
Zully
Z
Rojas
Glenda
G
Lares
Maria
M
Vera
Andez
A
de Noya
Belkis Alarcon
BA
Fernandez
Iris
I
Romero
Haidee Urdaneta
HU
Harrison
Leslie J S
LJ
Parkhouse
R Michael E
RM
Cortez
Milagros M
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012423:Rural Health; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D041201:Taenia solium / Q000276:immunology; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth