title: Preliminary evaluation of Community-Led Total Sanitation for the control of Taenia solium cysticercosis in Katete District of Zambia.
abstract: Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis is a zoonotic disease endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. It is associated with poor sanitary practices, free-range pig husbandry and lack of disease awareness in endemic communities. A comparative research was conducted with pre and post-intervention assessments in nine villages to evaluate Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) as an intervention measure for the control of porcine cysticercosis in Katete District in the Eastern Province of Zambia. Blood samples were collected from pigs for circulating antigen detection and a questionnaire focused on the household was administered to a total of 153 respondents whose pigs were examined (64 pre-intervention, 89 post-intervention), in order to obtain information on general demographic characteristics, pig husbandry practices, sanitation practices and associated knowledge and awareness of T. solium infections. The first sampling was conducted prior to the implementation of the CLTS and second sampling eight months after triggering of CLTS in the selected villages. A total of 379 pig serum samples were examined using the B158/B60 Ag-ELISA to detect T. solium cysticercosis, 104 pre-intervention and 275 post-intervention, of which 14 (13.5%) and 45 (16.4%) were positive, respectively. Wald test p-values were computed to assess significant differences in the variables of interest mentioned above for the pre and post CLTS. The research revealed that CLTS as a control measure did not significantly improve T. solium infections in pigs. The research also revealed that the sanitation practices and awareness of cysticercosis did not change. It is recommended that a longer term evaluation be undertaken when the villages have been declared open defaecation free. In addition, the research recommends that health education, mass drug treatment and pig vaccination be incorporated, as an essential component of prevention and control programmes for T. solium infections.
authors.affiliation: University of Zambia, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, P.O. Box 50110, Lusaka, Zambia. Electronic address: carolbulaya@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bulaya
authors.affiliation: University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Studies, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: Kabemba E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Mwape
authors.affiliation: University of Zambia, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, P.O. Box 50110, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Michelo
authors.affiliation: University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Paraclinical Studies, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: Chummy S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Sikasunge
authors.affiliation: University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Studies, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: Chitwambi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Makungu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dorny
authors.affiliation: University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Studies, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: Isaac K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Phiri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012499:Sanitation / Q000592:standards*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D041201:Taenia solium / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: Community-Led Total Sanitation; Control; Cysticercosis; Sanitation; Taenia solium; Zambia