[Environmental spread of Taenia proglottids: an atypical yet interesting public health problem in schools]. / Dispersione ambientale di proglottiti di Taenia: un'atipica ed interessante problematica di sanità pubblica in ambiente scolastico.

We report herein a new case of teniasis caused by Taenia saginata (tapeworm) in a pediatric patient with done-on-purpose dispersion of proglottids happened in an elementary school inside the health district ASL CN-1. This new case highlights how teniasis in children is not as rare, as it is not so rare dispersal of proglottids in the environment, made on purpose, by the same subjects that have been parasitized. The environmental dispersion of proglottids is an important public health problem that requires a rapid and joint management of the problem aiming to identify the parasite as quickly as possible, given the different pathogenic larval stage of three species of tapeworm that can infest the man.

Why pigs are free-roaming: Communities' perceptions, knowledge and practices regarding pig management and taeniosis/cysticercosis in a Taenia solium endemic rural area in Eastern Zambia.

Taenia solium cysticercosis is a neglected parasitic zoonosis in many developing countries including Zambia. Studies in Africa have shown that the underuse of sanitary facilities and the widespread occurrence of free-roaming pigs are the major risk factors for porcine cysticercosis. Socio-cultural determinants related to free range pig management and their implications for control of T. solium remain unclear. The study objective was to assess the communities' perceptions, reported practices and knowledge regarding management of pigs and taeniosis/cysticercosis (including neurocysticercosis) in an endemic rural area in Eastern Zambia, and to identify possible barriers to pig related control measures such as pig confinement. A total of 21 focus group discussions on pig husbandry practices were organized separately with men, women and children, in seven villages from Petauke district. The findings reveal that the perception of pigs and their role in society (financial, agricultural and traditional), the distribution of the management tasks among the family members owning pigs (feeding, building kraal, seeking care) and environmental aspects (feed supply, presence of bush, wood use priorities, rainy season) prevailing in the study area affect pig confinement. People have a fragmented knowledge of the pork tapeworm and its transmission. Even if negative aspects/health risks of free-range pigs keeping are perceived, people are ready to take the risk for socio-economic reasons. Finally, gender plays an important role because women, and also children, seem to have a higher perception of the risks but lack power in terms of economic decision-making compared to men. Currently pig confinement is not seen as an acceptable method to control porcine cysticercosis by many farmers in Eastern Zambia, vaccination and treatment seemed to be more appropriate. Embedded in a One Health approach, disease control programs should therefore ensure a complementary appropriate set of control strategies by engaging new sectors such as agronomy, spatial ecology and finally consider the socio-cultural context, which is likely to enhance the development of control methods that could be accepted by the communities.

Control of Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis: from research towards implementation.

Theoretically, considering the biology of its transmission and reservoirs, global eradication of Taenia solium taeniasis and cysticercosis is feasible. Recently much progress has been made in research on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human taeniasis and porcine cysticercosis, although more operational research is still needed. In spite of this, global eradication of T. solium infection is still unlikely in the near future. Major obstacles to practical implementation of control measures include low levels of sanitation and health education amongst endemic populations, ineffective health services infrastructure and inadequate socioeconomic development in these areas. The continued public health impact of neurocysticercosis, especially fatalities and epilepsy, force us to identify improved options for control. In order to implement control measures in highly endemic areas the active involvement of medical services in controlling T. solium infection and more effective collaboration between medical and veterinary services is necessary. A switch is suggested from total reliance on meat inspection to active diagnosis and treatment of human taeniasis, protection of pigs against infection, promotion of health education and improved surveillance preparing chemotherapeutic and/or sanitary interventions. This could be implemented in areas where active transmission causes substantial morbidity and mortality provided there is the political will, social support, better financing and an effective organizational framework.

Transmission dynamics of Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia hydatigena and Taenia ovis in sheep in Uruguay.

A base-line survey was carried out on the transmission dynamics of Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia hydatigena and Taenia ovis in sheep in the Department of Florida, Uruguay. Mean life expectancy at birth of the sheep population in this Department was estimated at 3.5 and 4.8 years for male and female sheep, respectively. Both intensity and prevalence of E. granulosus infection increased with age providing no evidence that immunity was acquired in the population. This revealed that E. granulosus was only relatively stable and in an equilibrium endemic steady state with an estimate of the basic reproduction ratio (Ro) of about 1.2. The mature larval population in sheep was over-dispersed with parameter k, from fitting a negative binomial, being 0.199 and 0.556 in 42- and 54-month-old sheep, respectively. The mean number of cysts increased by 1.05 cysts per year and the infection pressure was calculated as 0.174 infections per year, implying that each infection consisted of 693.6 eggs to produce 6.03 cysts. Neither intensity nor prevalence of infection with T. hydatigena or T. ovis increased with age. This indicated that immunity was acquired to reinfection by both parasites and they were in an equilibrium hyperenedemic steady state with an estimated Ro of 4.2-5.8. Viability and fertility of E. granulosus, and viability of T. hydatigena cysts in the older age groups were low. The effects of the different transmission levels of the parasites on potential control strategies are discussed.

Diagnostico da cisticercose bovina em matadouros / Diagnostics of the bovine cystercosis at slaughterhouses

The author studied the conduct of his techniqueof diapragmatic pillars examination applied systematically for cattle "post morten"inspection detectingg cysticerci. 85.674 animals wereexamined; 4.366(5,10 per cent ) were infected; 4.222 (96,7 per cent )being monocystercosis and 144 (3,30 per cent ) pluricistercosis. The proposed technique increased the efficiency of the "post mortem" examination for the Cysticercus bovis detection by 4,62 per cent (monocystercosis animals), indicating that de diaphragmatic pillars executed at killing floor easily should be mandatory