Use of sentinel pigs to monitor environmental T. solium contamination
1994
Gonzalez, A.E. | Gilman, R. | Tsang, C.V.W. (Universidad San Marcos (Peru))
Currently, most taeniasis/cysticercosis intervention programs rely on mass treatment, stool exam, and human serology to assess T. solium prevalence. These methods are expensive, slow, and often difficult to comply for both logistic and cultural reasons. We tested a novel approach using EITB serology in piglets (sentinel pigs) to determine environmental contamination with T. solium eggs in an endemic zone in Peru. Twelve sentinel piglets from a non-endemic area were tested at age two months, moved to an endemic area and retested again at age nine months. Sentinel piglets native from this endemic area were also tested concurrently at age two and nine months. Of the non-native pigs, 33 percent (4/12) acquired new infection. Of 28 native pigs tested at the second and ninth months, 64 percent (18/28) acquired new infection. In a subset of the native piglets known to come from seronegative sows, 44 percent (4/9) were infected at 5 months. Sentinel piglets are a practical method to detect T. solium eggs in the environment that permit indirect assessment of human risk and may be used to monitor the efficacy of intervention programs.
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