title: Taenia solium infection in Peru: a collaboration between Peace Corps Volunteers and researchers in a community based study.
abstract: Neurocysticercosis is a leading cause of seizures and epilepsy in most of the world, and it occurs when Taenia solium larval cysts infect the central nervous system. T. solium tapeworm infection is endemic in much of Peru, but there are scarce data on the prevalence in many rural highland communities where it is likely to be hyper-endemic. Peace Corps Volunteers live and work in these communities; however, to our knowledge, they have not been used to facilitate public health research.
  
  
  
  We utilized Peace Corps Volunteers to estimate the prevalence of T. solium tapeworm infection in seven rural communities in northern Peru. A convenience non-random sampling frame was used. Peace Corps Volunteers facilitated the collection of stool samples (N = 2,328), which were analyzed by sedimentation and microscopy. Niclosamide treatment and purgation preceded species identification, which was done by PCR-REA.
  
  
  
  Taenia sp. egg-positive stool samples were found in three of the seven communities we surveyed. The overall prevalence of Taenia sp. egg positivity was 2.1% (49/2,328) (95% CI = 1.6-2.8%) with prevalence up to 4.3% (42/977) (95% CI = 3.1-5.8%) by community. All 34 of the specimens tested by PCR-REA were T. solium. The overall prevalence of T. solium tapeworm infection was 1.5% (34/2,328) (95% CI = 1.0-2.0%). Prevalence up to 2.9% (28/977) (95% CI = 1.9-4.1%) by community was observed.
  
  
  
  This study recorded high T. solium tapeworm prevalence, and identified hyper-endemic rural communities. It demonstrates that synergy between researchers and Peace Corps Volunteers can be an effective means to conducting large-scale, community-based studies in remote areas of Peru.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nathaniel S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.affiliation: Unit of Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, School of Sciences and Philosophy, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pajuelo
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Taryn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases & Immunity and the Wellcome Trust-Imperial Centre for Global Health, Imperial College London, London, England, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Maria-Cristina I
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Loader
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Sciences and Philosophy, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Manuela R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Verastegui
authors.affiliation: School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States of America.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sterling
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases & Immunity and the Wellcome Trust-Imperial Centre for Global Health, Imperial College London, London, England, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jon S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Friedland
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Sciences and Philosophy, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Hector H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Asociación Benéfica Proyectos en Informática, Salud, Medicina y Agricultura (AB PRISMA), Lima, Peru; Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States of America.
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gilman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000923:Anticestodal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D009534:Niclosamide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D054704:Peace Corps; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D000091402:Prohibitins; D012108:Research Personnel; D012424:Rural Population; D041201:Taenia solium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014481:United States; D014838:Volunteers; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000923:Anticestodal Agents; C000717331:PHB2 protein, human; D000091402:Prohibitins; D009534:Niclosamide