Search

Mortality of young stock is a challenge for livestock producers globally. This pilot study, part of a Government-led Young Stock Mortality Reduction Consortium project was undertaken to identify and evaluate interventions to reduce camel young stock mortality in pastoral production systems in Ethiopia. Key interventions were selected in alignment with national objectives in the Ethiopian Livestock Master Plan. Pastoralists were enrolled by convenience sampling across two regions. The pilot study findings demonstrated highly significant reductions in mortality, risk of diarrhoea and respiratory disease, and death frommalnutrition post-intervention, with the greatest impact in larger herds. These findings should contribute to improved livestock productivity in Ethiopia. Indeed, activities from a wider study also piloted are now being scaled up for bovine calves, and it is anticipated that this will be extended to camel and small ruminant young stock as well.

Taenia solium is endemic in Madagascar and presents a significant burden on the population and the health system. The parasite cycles through humans who host the adult tapeworm, and pigs that host the larval stages. Accidental infection of humans may occur with the larval stages which encyst in the nervous central system causing neurocysticercosis, a major cause of seizure disorders and a public health problem. One of the interventions to facilitate the control of the disease is mass drug administration (MDA) of the human population with taeniacide. Here we describe a pilot project conducted in Antanifotsy district of Madagascar from 2015 to 2017 where three annual rounds of MDA (praziquantel, 10mg/Kg) were undertaken in 52 villages. Changes in the prevalence of taeniasis were assessed before, during and after the treatments. A total of 221,308 treatments were given to all eligible people above 5 years of age representing a 95% coverage of the targeted population. No major adverse effects were notified related to the implementation of the MDA. The prevalence of taeniasis was measured using Kato-Katz and copro-antigen techniques. Analyses undertaken combining the results of the Kato-Katz with copro-antigen, or using the Kato-Katz results alone, showed that there was a significant reduction in taeniasis 4 months after the last MDA, but 12 months later (16 months after the last MDA) the taeniasis prevalence had returned to its original levels. Results of the pilot project emphasize the need of a multi-sectorial One-Health approach for the sustained control of T. solium., Author summary The parasite Taenia solium causes neurocysticercosis in humans in its larval stage and is the main cause of seizure disorders in poor communities that keep pigs (the intermediate host). Diagnosis and treatment of neurocysticercosis remains beyond the reach of the general population in Madagascar. Prevention is therefore the most suitable strategy for combating this disease. Mass drug administration (MDA) is used to treat communities for several parasitic diseases such as schistosomiasis. Infection with the T. solium tapeworm in people can be treated with MDA using praziquantel. Here, we conducted a pilot project in Madagascar, giving over 220,000 treatments to people in 52 villages once per year, for 3 consecutive years. The effects on taeniasis seemed to be encouraging when assessed 4 months after finishing the treatment, but 16 months later, the parasite’s prevalence had returned to its original level. MDA was effective in providing temporary control of taeniasis, but parasite transmission was not interrupted. With respect to T. solium, this highlights the need of incorporating other interventions such as vaccination and medication in pigs, improved pig husbandry and meat inspection to tackle the whole cycle of the parasite.

Taenia solium is a zoonotic cestode parasite which causes human neurocysticercosis. Pigs transmit the parasite by acting as the intermediate host. An intervention was implemented to control transmission of T. solium by pigs in Dalit communities of Banke District, Nepal. Every 3 months, pigs were vaccinated with the TSOL18 recombinant vaccine (Cysvax, IIL, India)) and, at the same time, given an oral treatment with 30mg/kg oxfendazole (Paranthic 10% MCI, Morocco). The prevalence of porcine cysticercosis was determined in both an intervention area as well as a similar no intervention control area, among randomly selected, slaughter-age pigs. Post mortem assessments were undertaken both at the start and at the end of the intervention. Participants conducting the post mortem assessments were blinded as to the source of the animals being assessed. At the start of the intervention the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis was 23.6% and 34.5% in the control and intervention areas, respectively. Following the intervention, the prevalence of cysticercosis in pigs from the control area was 16.7% (no significant change), whereas no infection was detected after complete slicing of all muscle tissue and brain in animals from the intervention area (P = 0.004). These findings are discussed in relation to the feasibility and sustainability of T. solium control. The 3-monthly vaccination and drug treatment intervention in pigs used here is suggested as an effective and practical method for reducing T. solium transmission by pigs. The results suggest that applying the intervention over a period of years may ultimately reduce the number of tapeworm carriers and thereby the incidence of NCC., Author summary Neurocysticercosis is a disease caused by a parasitic infection of the brain. The parasite responsible, Taenia solium, is transmitted by pigs where human sanitation is poor and pigs roam freely. Neurocysticercosis is responsible for many cases of epilepsy in people living in poor, developing countries. The feasibility and sustainability of implementing control measures have been major impediments to reducing the incidence of neurocysticercosis. Recently, two new commercial products have become available which together offer the possibility of interrupting the parasite’s transmission by pigs–the TSOL18 vaccine (Cysvax, IIL, India) and an oxfendazole formulation (Paranthic 10%, MCI, Morocco) licensed for use in pigs for the treatment of cysticercosis. Here we describe the impact of implementing vaccination plus drug treatment of pigs in the Banke district of Nepal. The intervention eliminated the risk of transmission of T. solium by the animals vaccinated and treated during the trial. Application of the vaccination and drug treatment program used here, possibly with strategic use of anthelmintics also in the human population, is an effective option for reducing the incidence of neurocysticercosis in Nepal and elsewhere.