Abstract:
The aim of this study was to investigate exposure to porcine cysticercosis (PC) and associated
risk factors in the Kongwa District, eastern-central Tanzania. For the first time a
cross-sectional investigation of the seroprevalence in pigs using a commercial genus
specific cysticercosis enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (apDia Ag-ELISA) was undertaken
in eastern-central Tanzania. Moreover, the identity of suspected T. solium cysts from
pigs in the study area were confirmed by sequencing parasites’ mitochondrial cox1 gene.
Structured questionnaires and direct observations were used to investigate risk factors
associated with parasite transmission. A total of 102 pig-keeping households were surveyed
during the dry season between July and August 2017 and 126 households in the
rainy season between March and April 2018. Of the 447 examined pigs, 77 (17%, 95% C.I.
14%e20%) tested positive in the ELISA. Seroprevalence was higher in pigs examined during
the rainy (21%, 95% C.I. 16%e26%) than dry (12%, 95% C.I. 7%e17%) season (p ¼ 0.019). Eight
cyst-positive-pigs were confirmed to be infected with T. solium by sequencing. Risk factors
associated with PC seropositivity included origin of piglets or pigs (OR ¼ 0.27, 95% C.I. 0.13
e0.42, p ¼ 0.001), socioeconomic factors and pig production system (OR ¼ 0.22, 95% C.I.
0.07e0.37, p ¼ 0.005) and sanitation and hygiene practices (OR ¼ 0.19, 95% C.I. 0.04e0.34,
p ¼ 0.014). This study has recorded a high Taenia spp. seroprevalence in pigs in Kongwa
suggesting the presence of people in the community carrying the adult parasite, Taenia
solium. Our findings also suggest risk of infection by T. solium to people in urban centres
and cities consuming pigs from rural areas in Kongwa. The high seroprevalence in Kongwa
calls for further studies on taeniasis and cysticercosis in the human population in order to
determine suitable control strategies.
