title: Monitoring the outcomes of interventions against Taenia solium: options and suggestions.
abstract: There is an increasing interest in reducing the incidence of human neurocysticercosis, caused by infection with the larval stage of Taenia solium. Several intervention trials are currently assessing various options for control of T. solium transmission. A critical aspect of these trials will be the evaluation of whether the interventions have been successful. However, there is no consensus about the most appropriate or valuable methods that should be used. Here, we undertake a critical assessment of the diagnostic tests which are currently available for human T. solium taeniasis and human and porcine cysticercosis, as well as their suitability for evaluation of intervention trial outcomes. Suggestions are made about which of the measures that are available for evaluation of T. solium interventions would be most suitable, and which methodologies are the most appropriate given currently available technologies. Suggestions are also made in relation to the most urgent research needs in order to address deficiencies in current diagnostic methods.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Clinical Centre, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lightowlers
authors.affiliation: Cysticercosis Unit, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima, Peru.|Department of Microbiology, School of Sciences, Centre for Global Health-Tumbes, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Clinical Centre, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Gauci
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Clinical Centre, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donadeu
authors.affiliation: Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Genève 27, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abela-Ridder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000662:veterinary; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D041201:Taenia solium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013622:Taeniasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; C011030:oxfendazole
keywords: Taenia solium; control; cysticercosis; diagnosis; neurocysticercosis; taeniasis