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Background: Taeniosis and cysticercosis are human infections caused by the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. This study is a baseline for community-based intervention. We determined the prevalence of human cysticercosis and associated risk factors following a deworming program conducted throughout the country, with Mbulu District being among the districts in Northern Tanzania. Methods: Human cysticercosis was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag- ELISA). Household interviews and observations were conducted to identify risk factors for cysticercosis transmissions among households and communities. Results: Three hundred individuals participated in this study. The age ranged from 5 to 89 years, with a median of 19 years. The prevalence of human cysticercosis was 23 (7.67%). The prevalence was high with 6 (11.76%) among individuals aged 26 to 35 years and ±45 years. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence by age group, sex, or occupation. Among the 300 participants, 82 (27.3%) had received anthelmintics during the previous year; among these, 5 (21.7%) were infected. The likelihood of infection was low among anthelmintic users by 28% [0.72 (0.26–2.01)], but the protection was not significant. The communities differed in risk factors on the availability of a clean and safe water supply; 52.7% (46/86) of households visited had no pit latrine. The cysticercosis prevalence showed a significant difference in communities. Conclusions: The prevalence of human cysticercosis was high and associated with higher age groups. The prevalence was low among those who had taken anthelmintics and was associated with lower age groups. The current school deworming program has a positive effect on school children, while the elderly are at higher risk because the intervention did not target them. It is recommended to scale up anthelmintic intervention to higher age groups.

Simple Summary: This study assessed the effect of a school deworming program on Taenia solium (the pork tapeworm) which started in 2002 in Tanzania. Mbulu district was selected because several studies including clinical trials were conducted in the district. Despite the school deworming and intervention conducted, the area is reported with high human T. solium cysticercosis and related epileptic cases. We assessed the deworming performed by the local government in collaboration with the Neglected Tropical Disease Control (NTD) program among school children. The infection by age, sex, and household along with community and risk factors were assessed. High human T. solium cysticercosis was reported along with high household and community risk factors. The deworming seemed to have positive effect amongyounger age groups but with no significant difference in other, older age groups. This shows that there is a re-infection of younger age groups compared to untreated adults. Thus, it is recommended to scale up deworming to adult age groups. Background: Taeniosis and cysticercosis are human infections caused by the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. This study is a baseline for community-based intervention. We determined the prevalence of human cysticercosis and associated risk factors following a deworming program conducted throughout the country, with Mbulu District being among the districts in Northern Tanzania. Methods: Human cysticercosis was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag- ELISA). Household interviews and observations were conducted to identify risk factors for cysticercosis transmissions among households and communities. Results: Three hundred individuals participated in this study. The age ranged from 5 to 89 years, with a median of 19 years. The prevalence of human cysticercosis was 23 (7.67%). The prevalence was high with 6 (11.76%) among individuals aged 26 to 35 years and ±45 years. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence by age group, sex, or occupation. Among the 300 participants, 82 (27.3%) had received anthelmintics during the previous year; among these, 5 (21.7%) were infected. The likelihood of infection was low among anthelmintic users by 28% [0.72 (0.26–2.01)], but the protection was not significant. The communities differed in risk factors on the availability of a clean and safe water supply; 52.7% (46/86) of households visited had no pit latrine. The cysticercosis prevalence showed a significant difference in communities. Conclusions: The prevalence of human cysticercosis was high and associated with higher age groups. The prevalence was low among those who had taken anthelmintics and was associated with lower age groups. The current school deworming program has a positive effect on school children, while the elderly are at higher risk because the intervention did not target them. It is recommended to scale up anthelmintic intervention to higher age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taeniosis and cysticercosis are infections caused by cestodes, Taenia solium is among them. T.solium neurocysticercosis accounts for 30% of acquired epilepsy in human in developing countries. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of cysticercosis among domestic pigs in Mbulu district following deworming intervention. The study was conducted among three rural communities monitoring community intervention in Mbulu district between March 2020 and September 2021. Live pigs were diagnosed by lingual examination for the presence of T. solium cysticerci, and pig-rearing practices were recorded. Logistic regression was performed to determine the role of risk factors on pig infection outcome. We conveniently sampled 510 pigs; 267 (52.4%) were sampled in the year 2020 and 243 (47.6%) in 2021. All pigs were examined by lingual examination for the presence of pork tapeworm larvae, and 43 (8.4%) pigs were found to be infected. Twenty-one (48.8%) of the infected pigs were males and 22 (51.2%) were females, and the overall annual prevalence of tapeworm larvae was 9% and 7.8% for 2020 and 2021, respectively. The pigs were twice more likely to be found infected during the rainy season compared to the dry season in 2020 (OR = 2.27, 95%CI of 1.16–7.22). The reported pig-rearing practices were free-range, penned, and tethered, 141 (52.8%), 64 (24%), and 62 (23.2%), respectively. Of the 94 visited households in 2020, 78 (83%) reported drinking water without boiling, and 59 (62.8%) household leaders reported having heard about taeniosis/cysticercosis. The prevalence of cysticercosis among domestic pigs in this study was high, with seasonal variations. Despite the ongoing national school deworming and community deworming program, there was no significant change in the prevalence of cysticercosis over two consecutive years. The reported pig infections imply fecal-oral transmission with humans tapeworm eggs released from infected humans. Most households reported consuming unboiled drinking water that might be contaminated. Integrating pig vaccination and deworming, health education and school or community deworming along with improved pig management practice and general community water sanitation hygiene (WASH) are recommended to reduce the burden of pork tapeworm in the study communities.

The urgency of the problem of human teniases is due to the widespread prevalence of these parasitoses, which often infect humans.The aim and result of the work is to summarize the available information about the etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical picture, diagnosis, etiotropic therapy and prevention of human teniases.Conclusion. Teniases are widespread, including on the territory of Russia. The clinic mainly includes symptoms of lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, allergic reactions. Diagnostics is carried out on the basis of the detection of eggs, proglottids, coproangigens of parasites in the feces, serological and molecular genetic tests. Praziquantel is an effective etiotropic therapy. Prevention takes into account the peculiarities of the epidemiology of teniases.

Optimal control strategies for Taenia solium taeniasis and cysticercosis have not been determined. We conducted a 2-year cluster randomized trial in Peru by assigning 23 villages to 1 of 3 geographically targeted intervention approaches. For ring screening (RS), participants living near pigs with cysticercosis were screened for taeniasis; identified cases were treated with niclosamide. In ring treatment (RT), participants living near pigs with cysticercosis received presumptive treatment with niclosamide. In mass treatment (MT), participants received niclosamide treatment every 6 months regardless of location. In each approach, half the villages received targeted or mass oxfendazole for pigs (6 total study arms). We noted significant reductions in seroincidence among pigs in all approaches (67.1% decrease in RS, 69.3% in RT, 64.7% in MT; p

Taeniosis and cysticercosis are infections caused by cestodes, Taenia solium is among them. T.solium neurocysticercosis accounts for 30% of acquired epilepsy in human in developing countries. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of cysticercosis among domestic pigs in Mbulu district following deworming intervention. The study was conducted among three rural communities monitoring community intervention in Mbulu district between March 2020 and September 2021. Live pigs were diagnosed by lingual examination for the presence of T. solium cysticerci , and pig-rearing practices were recorded. Logistic regression was performed to determine the role of risk factors on pig infection outcome. We conveniently sampled 510 pigs; 267 (52.4%) were sampled in the year 2020 and 243 (47.6%) in 2021. All pigs were examined by lingual examination for the presence of pork tapeworm larvae, and 43 (8.4%) pigs were found to be infected. Twenty-one (48.8%) of the infected pigs were males and 22 (51.2%) were females, and the overall annual prevalence of tapeworm larvae was 9% and 7.8% for 2020 and 2021, respectively. The pigs were twice more likely to be found infected during the rainy season compared to the dry season in 2020 (OR = 2.27, 95%CI of 1.16-7.22). The reported pig-rearing practices were free-range, penned, and tethered, 141 (52.8%), 64 (24%), and 62 (23.2%), respectively. Of the 94 visited households in 2020, 78 (83%) reported drinking water without boiling, and 59 (62.8%) household leaders reported having heard about taeniosis/cysticercosis. The prevalence of cysticercosis among domestic pigs in this study was high, with seasonal variations. Despite the ongoing national school deworming and community deworming program, there was no significant change in the prevalence of cysticercosis over two consecutive years. The reported pig infections imply fecal-oral transmission with humans tapeworm eggs released from infected humans. Most households reported consuming unboiled drinking water that might be contaminated. Integrating pig vaccination and deworming, health education and school or community deworming along with improved pig management practice and general community water sanitation hygiene (WASH) are recommended to reduce the burden of pork tapeworm in the study communities., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Optimal control strategies for Taenia solium taeniasis and cysticercosis have not been determined. We conducted a 2-year cluster randomized trial in Peru by assigning 23 villages to 1 of 3 geographically targeted intervention approaches. For ring screening (RS), participants living near pigs with cysticercosis were screened for taeniasis; identified cases were treated with niclosamide. In ring treatment (RT), participants living near pigs with cysticercosis received presumptive treatment with niclosamide. In mass treatment (MT), participants received niclosamide treatment every 6 months regardless of location. In each approach, half the villages received targeted or mass oxfendazole for pigs (6 total study arms). We noted significant reductions in seroincidence among pigs in all approaches (67.1% decrease in RS, 69.3% in RT, 64.7% in MT; p<0.001), despite a smaller proportion of population treated by targeted approaches (RS 1.4%, RT 19.3%, MT 88.5%). Our findings suggest multiple approaches can achieve rapid control of T. solium transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurocysticercosis is the most common cause of seizures in many developing countries. It is important, not just because of its prevalence but also because in most cases it is treatable. As a neglected tropical disease, it has been the focus of tremendous research. The Chilean government has established a goal of cysticercosis eradication which will become a model for a global effort. The pork tapeworm, taenia solium, primarily affects pigs although other mammals have been infested, such as bears. Human infection related to ingesting inadequately cooked meat is well known, but children often become infected by fecal-oral contamination of food or water. Profound morbidity can then affect the central nervous system. Treatment is available and seizures can be managed effectively. New therapies, including neuroendoscopic methods are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cysticercosis is a helminthic infection caused by the larval stage of pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. The worm requires different hosts during its different stages of development. Humans are the definitive hosts and harbor the adult worms, while pigs harbor the larval stage and act as the intermediate hosts. This disease is endemic in developing countries of the world where poor sanitary conditions are prevalent. It manifests mostly in form of lesions in the subcutaneous tissues, brain and skeletal muscles. It is interesting to note that the oral cavity is a rare site for its occurence and pose as a diagnostic challenge for the clinicians. Here, we report one such rare case of an isolated lesion of the oral cavity involving the buccinator muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cysticercosis is a condition in which a human acts as the intermediate host of Taenia solium, a pork tapeworm. The larvae infestation sites frequently include cerebral tissue, ocular organs and muscles. The present case report describes a rare incidence of cysticercosis cellulosae in the labial mucosa of upper lip

Due to increased globalization, food-borne parasitic infections are becoming more prevalent worldwide, including in countries where these parasites and parasitic diseases had previously been well controlled or eradicated. Improved sanitation, health education, and establishment of appropriate food safety mechanisms can go a long way towards the control of many these infections. However, food-borne parasitic infections are still common diseases in developing countries, especially in rural areas. As many of today's travelers are looking to explore more distant locations and partake in the local cuisine, they may be at greater risk of acquiring a food-borne parasitic infection, including those caused by a number of adult and larval tapeworms. This review discusses fish and meat-borne tapeworms and zoonotic metacestodiases of public health importance to both developing and developed countries, with a focus on infection prevention in travelers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurocysticercosis results from the infestation of the central nervous system with invading tapeworm larvae. Though uncommon in the US prior to 1965, new cases are currently being diagnosed at an unprecedented rate. Drawing on environmental health, intervention and risk data retrieved from standard/alternative databases and in-country sources, we present an update and summary of modifiable risk factors and field-tested primary prevention measures. While points of intervention, subpopulations at risk and overall magnitude of the problem are addressed, particular attention is paid to defining risk reduction measures that can be adopted by individuals and high risk groups in the near-term to interrupt or eliminate pathways of exposure leading to disease transmission. Though global eradication is not attainable in the near future, effective preventative measures exist and should be taken now by international travellers and workers, US/foreign government agencies, and individuals living in endemic regions to reduce human suffering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is caused by cysticerci spreading to spinal or brain tissue. NCC causes headaches, seizures, and focal neurological deficits. NCC is one of the main causes of epilepsy worldwide. NCC can cause death if it is not adequately treated. NCC is preventable through education of proper handwashing techniques proper food handling, and separation of human and pig living quarters (CDC 1998). The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other international health organizations are attempting to rid the world of NCC through education. Cysticerci create cavities in the brain and other body tissue where their tiny bodies grow sometimes into tapeworms two to seven meters in length and can live up to 25 years in the human body. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) wormholes appear. Often times, if best practice is followed, the patient's entire body is scanned and more craters appear. Some authors have stated that cysticerci on a computed topography (CT) scan are similar to a starry sky or fireflies (Kapur et al. 2007). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We report on a case of orbital cysticercosis in a 27-year-old Burmese man who presented with an orbital swelling 7 months after arriving in Australia. Methods: The presenting history and findings are reviewed and treatment options are discussed. A brief review of the life cycle of the tapeworm Taenia solium is provided. Results: The orbital lesion was successfully treated by surgical excision. Conclusion: Cysticercosis should not be forgotten as a possible cause of unusual orbital lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to increased globalization, food-borne parasitic infections are becoming more prevalent worldwide, including in countries where these parasites and parasitic diseases had previously been well controlled or eradicated. Improved sanitation, health education, and establishment of appropriate food safety mechanisms can go a long way towards the control of many these infections. However, food-borne parasitic infections are still common diseases in developing countries, especially in rural areas. As many of today's travelers are looking to explore more distant locations and partake in the local cuisine, they may be at greater risk of acquiring a food-borne parasitic infection, including those caused by a number of adult and larval tapeworms. This review discusses fish and meat-borne tapeworms and zoonotic metacestodiases of public health importance to both developing and developed countries, with a focus on infection prevention in travelers., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cysticercosis, an infection caused by the cystic larvae of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium, is one of the most frequent parasitic infections of the human nervous system (neurocysticercosis). It is endemic in most of Latin America, the sub-Saharan Africa, and vast parts of Asia, including the Indian subcontinent. It has also been increasingly diagnosed in developed countries because of migration of people from endemic zones and exposure in travelers. The life cycle involves the development of the adult tapeworm in the human small intestine (after ingesting infected pork with cysts) and larval infection in pig tissues (after ingesting human stools containing the eggs of the tapeworm). Humans get infected by the fecal-oral route, most often from a direct contact with an asymptomatic Taenia carrier. Most common clinical presentations are seizures (particularly late-onset seizures), chronic headaches, and intracranial hypertension. However, cysticerci can locate anywhere in the human nervous system, thus potentially causing almost any neurological syndrome and making clinical diagnosis a difficult task. Neuroimaging is the main diagnostic tool, and specific serology confirms the diagnosis and helps to define the diagnosis when images are unclear. Factors such as location (extraparenchymal versus intraparenchymal), number, size and evolutive stage of the parasites determine the clinical manifestations, therapeutic approach, and prognosis. Management includes symptomatic drugs (analgesics, antiepileptic drugs, anti-inflammatory agents) and in many cases cysticidal drugs, either albendazole or praziquantel. In recent years, efforts have focused on transmission control and potential elimination in endemic regions., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)