title: Taenia solium metacestode preparation in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa: a source for diagnosis and research on cysticercosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Taenia solium metacestodes/cysts obtained from pig carcasses constitute a primary source for diagnostic tools used for the detection of human cysticercosis. Data on T. solium cyst preparation in Africa is still scarce but required to establish independent reference laboratories.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study is a) to present the likely yield of T. solium cyst material by the use of two different preparation methods in the field and b) to investigate its suitability for immunodiagnosis of human cysticercosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In Zambia, Uganda and Tanzania 670 pigs were screened for T. solium infection. Cysts were prepared by 'shaking method' and 'washing method'. Generated crude antigens were applied in a standard western blot assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  46 out of 670 pigs (6.9%) were found positive for T. solium (Zambia: 12/367, 3.3%; Uganda: 11/217, 5.1%; Tanzania 23/86, 26.7%). Mean values of 77.7 ml whole cysts, 61.8 ml scolices/membranes and 10.9 ml cyst fluid were obtained per pig. Suitability of collected material for the use as crude antigen and molecular diagnostic techniques was demonstrated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study clearly shows that T. solium cyst preparation in African settings by simple field methods constitutes an effective way to obtain high quality material as source for diagnostic tools and research purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Sikasunge
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Odongo-Aginya
authors.affiliation: Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simukoko
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mwanjali
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alarakol
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ovuga
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Matuja
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kihamia
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Löscher
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bretzel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012424:Rural Population; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012712:Serum Globulins; D013552:Swine; D013621:Taenia / Q000737:chemistry*; D013636:Tanzania; D014454:Uganda; D015024:Zambia
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D012712:Serum Globulins
keywords: Taenia solium; antigen; cysticercosis; immunoblot; neurocysticercosis
references.citation: Int J Parasitol. 2004 Apr;34(5):569-76
references.pmid: 15064121
references.citation: Trends Parasitol. 2010 Mar;26(3):137-44
references.pmid: 20083438
references.citation: J Clin Microbiol. 2003 Jun;41(6):2577-86
references.pmid: 12791883
references.citation: Parasite Immunol. 1998 Oct;20(10):483-8
references.pmid: 9797509
references.citation: J Helminthol. 1995 Jun;69(2):113-7
references.pmid: 7636157
references.citation: Neurology. 2005 Jul 26;65(2):229-33
references.pmid: 16043791
references.citation: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1986 Mar;35(2):308-13
references.pmid: 3082229
references.citation: Vet Parasitol. 2003 Feb 27;111(4):309-22
references.pmid: 12559710
references.citation: Anal Biochem. 1987 Nov 1;166(2):368-79
references.pmid: 2449095
references.citation: Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2009 Oct;121 Suppl 3:3-12
references.pmid: 19915809
references.citation: PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2012;6(3):e1594
references.pmid: 22479664
references.citation: PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2013;7(3):e2102
references.pmid: 23516650
references.citation: Pathog Glob Health. 2012 Sep;106(5):261-74
references.pmid: 23265550
references.citation: Int J Parasitol. 2011 Aug 15;41(10):1015-8
references.pmid: 21763695
references.citation: Parasitology. 2002 Jun;124(Pt 6):657-62
references.pmid: 12118722
references.citation: J Parasitol Res. 2009;2009:null
references.pmid: 20721330
references.citation: Vet J. 2008 May;176(2):240-4
references.pmid: 17468023
references.citation: Acta Trop. 2003 Jun;87(1):13-23
references.pmid: 12781374
references.citation: Res Vet Sci. 2007 Jun;82(3):370-6
references.pmid: 17101161
references.citation: Exp Parasitol. 2012 Jan;130(1):78-85
references.pmid: 22075212
references.citation: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1999 Jul;61(1):59-62
references.pmid: 10432057
references.citation: Vet Parasitol. 2004 Apr 15;120(4):275-83
references.pmid: 15063938
references.citation: Vet Parasitol. 2003 Oct 20;116(3):223-9
references.pmid: 14559165
references.citation: Trop Med Int Health. 2006 Jun;11(6):906-16
references.pmid: 16772013
references.citation: Proteomics. 2007 Nov;7(21):4016-30
references.pmid: 17960733
references.citation: J Infect Dis. 1989 Jan;159(1):50-9
references.pmid: 2909643