Notes and recommendations for the establishment of control programs for taeniasis and cysticercosis due to Taenia solium in Peru

Neurocysticercosis is a nervous system infection caused by the larvae (cysticercus) of the pork tapeworm (Taenia solium). Neurocysticercosis is the primary cause of acquired epilepsy worldwide and, therefore, a global public health problem. On the other hand, T. solium taeniasis/cysticercosis is one of very few infectious diseases considered to be potentially eradicable. Recently, a large-scale elimination program in Tumbes, Peru, demonstrated the feasibility of interrupting transmission. Based on these advances, a series of initial guidelines are proposed aimed at setting out the foundations for regional and national taeniasis/cysticercosis control programs, with simple and feasible local interventions as a starting point. La neurocisticercosis es la infección del sistema nervioso por la larva (cisticerco) de la tenia del cerdo (Taenia solium). La neurocisticercosis es la mayor causa de epilepsia adquirida a nivel mundial y por ende un problema de salud pública global. De otro lado, la teniasis/cisticercosis por T. solium es una de las pocas infecciones consideradas potencialmente erradicables. Recientemente, un programa de eliminación de transmisión a gran escala en Tumbes, Perú, demostró la factibilidad de interrumpir la transmisión. Sobre la base de estos avances, se proponen una serie de lineamientos iniciales para poner las bases de programas de control regionales y nacionales de la teniasis/cisticercosis, partiendo de intervenciones simples y factibles a nivel local.