Sofi Taenia solium elimination (CYSTISTOP)

Taenia solium taeniosis/cysticercosis is a neglected zoonotic parasitic disease complex with significant economic and public health impacts, occurring primarily in developing countries. As a final host, humans are the carriers of the tapeworm (taeniosis, TS); the normal intermediate pig host develops the metacestode larval stage (porcine cysticercosis, PCC). However, people can also act as accidental intermediate hosts and develop human cysticercosis (HCC) or neurocysticercosis (NCC) when the central nervous system is involved. In Zambia, recent results from a study carried out by the proposers indicate over 50% of cases of acquired (late onset) epilepsy are due to NCC. The scattered efforts of researchers into evaluation of control programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have focussed on single control options. It is becoming clear that these stand-alone options have the potential to reduce the occurrence of the parasite, however either long term or more integrated efforts seem to be required to reach an elimination status. This has never been studied, and these hypotheses are based on a disease transmission model that still needed to be improved. Also, the costs of the interventions have hardly been calculated. No large-scale studies according to the Peruvian example (elimination was achieved in a large scale study in a low endemicity area using integrated control tools) have been carried out in SSA, where they are most needed (high endemicity). The objective of the current study is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness/acceptability of elimination (to be achieved on a short term via integrated measures), and control (single measures, with an elimination goal on a longer term) of T. solium in a highly endemic area in SSA.

Project type:PhD project