Human and porcine Taenia solium infections in Mozambique: identifying research priorities

The objective of this paper is to critically review and summarize available scientific and lay literature, and ongoing studies on human and porcine cysticercosis in Mozambique to identify knowledge gaps and direct immediate and long-term research efforts. Data on the spatial distribution and prevale...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animal health research reviews 2011-06, Vol.12 (1), p.123-129
Main Authors: Afonso, S. M. S., Vaz, Y., Neves, L., Pondja, A., Dias, G., Willingham, A. L., Vilhena, M., Duarte, P. C., Jost, C. C., Noormahomed, E. V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abattoirs
Animal populations
Animals
Economic impact
Epidemiology
Humans
Molecular biology
Mozambique - epidemiology
Risk factors
Spatial distribution
Swine
Taenia solium
Taeniasis - epidemiology
Taeniasis - parasitology
Taeniasis - prevention & control
Taeniasis - veterinary
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The objective of this paper is to critically review and summarize available scientific and lay literature, and ongoing studies on human and porcine cysticercosis in Mozambique to identify knowledge gaps and direct immediate and long-term research efforts. Data on the spatial distribution and prevalence of the disease in human and swine populations are scarce and fragmented. Human serological studies have shown that 15–21% of apparently healthy adults were positive for cysticercosis antibodies or antigen, while in neuropsychiatric patients seroprevalence was as high as 51%. Slaughterhouse records indicate a countrywide occurrence of porcine cysticercosis, while studies have shown that 10–35% of pigs tested were seropositive for cysticercosis antibodies or antigen. Current research in Mozambique includes studies on the epidemiology, molecular biology, diagnosis and control of the disease. Future research efforts should be directed at better understanding the epidemiology of the disease in Mozambique, particularly risk factors for its occurrence and spread in human and swine populations, documenting the socio-economic impact of the disease, identifying critical control points and evaluating the feasibility and epidemiological impact of control measures and development of local level diagnostic tools for use in humans and swine.
ISSN:1466-2523
1475-2654
1475-2654
DOI:10.1017/S1466252311000077