title: Feedstuff and poor latrines may put pigs at risk of cysticercosis--A case-control study.
abstract: Attempts to control Taenia solium in low-income countries have been unsuccessful or unsustainable. This could indicate a 'missing link' in our understanding of the transmission dynamics of the parasite and possibly the magnitude of environmental contamination. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with porcine cysticercosis using a case-control study design, utilising known information on persistent or multiple infections of porcine cysticercosis. The study, a combination of questionnaire interviews and observational surveys, was conducted in July 2014 in the two districts Mbeya and Mbozi, Tanzania. Study households were identified based on their status regarding porcine cysticercosis prevalence and allocated into cases or controls based on previous porcine cysticercosis presence. This resulted in 43 farmers in the case group and 50 farmers in the control group, from 20 villages. Potato peels were said to be given to pigs either raw or boiled by 46% of the farmers. Based on logistic regression porcine cysticercosis could be associated with absence or a completely open latrine (p=0.035, OR 5.98, CI: 1.33-43.02) compared to an enclosed latrine. Feeding potato peels to pigs was also associated with increased risk of infection (p=0.007, OR 3.45, CI: 1.43-8.79). Logistic analysis including the pig management system indicated pigs kept in elevated pens (p=0.049, OR 5.33, CI: 1.08-32.27) and on a dirt floor (p=0.041, OR 9.87, CI: 1.29-114.55) were more likely to be infected compared to a cemented floor. Whether potato peels are contaminated with Taenia eggs before they reach the household or whether the contamination is from water or dirty hands during the process of peeling, remains to be confirmed. This study suggests that detailed assessment of a number of areas of pig management is essential for designing effective control programmes.
authors: Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark. Electronic address: braae@sund.ku.dk.
authors: Uffe Christian
authors: UC
authors: Braae
authors: Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, United Kingdom.
authors: Wendy
authors: W
authors: Harrison
authors: Faculty of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
authors: Faustin
authors: F
authors: Lekule
authors: Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark; Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, DK-1353 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Pascal
authors: P
authors: Magnussen
authors: Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
authors: Maria Vang
authors: MV
authors: Johansen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012499:Sanitation; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D041201:Taenia solium; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Environmental contamination; Porcine cysticercosis; Risk factors; Taenia eggs; Taenia solium; Transmission