Taenia solium infection in a rural community in the Peruvian Andes

Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2003 Jun;97(4):373-9. doi: 10.1179/000349803235002371.

Abstract

An epidemiological study was conducted in a highland, rural community in Peru, to determine the seroprevalences of human and porcine infection with Taenia solium and the risk factors associated with human infection. The seroprevalences, determined using an assay based on enzyme-linked-immuno-electrotransfer blots (EITB), were 21% (66/316) in the humans and 65% (32/49) in the pigs. The human subjects aged <30 years were more likely to be positive for anti-T. solium antibodies than the older subjects (P < 0.001). The risk factors associated with human seropositivity were lack of education beyond the elementary level [odds ratio (OR)=2.69; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.09-6.65] and pig-raising (OR=1.68; CI=0.96-2.92). Curiously, sheep-raising was inversely associated with human T. solium infection (OR=0.50; CI=0.28-0.90). The study site appears to be a new endemic focus for T. solium in the central Peruvian Andes. Although, in earlier studies, the seroprevalence of T. solium infection has generally been found to increase with age, the opposite trend was observed in the present study. The results of follow-up studies should help determine if the relatively high seroprevalence in the young subjects of the present study is the result of a transient antibody response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Helminth / analysis
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting / methods
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peru / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Rural Health*
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Swine
  • Swine Diseases / epidemiology
  • Taenia solium / immunology
  • Taeniasis / epidemiology*
  • Taeniasis / immunology
  • Taeniasis / veterinary

Substances

  • Antibodies, Helminth