FREQUENCY OF ANTI-CYSTICERCUS CELLULOSAE ANTIBODIES IN INDIVIDUALS FROM 5 COUNTIES IN THE SOUTHERN REGION OF BRAZIL

An epidemiological and serological study was carried out on a sample o f 2,180 individuals, in five counties in the north of Parana State - B razil, using the indirect immunofluorescence test to detect anti-Cysti cercus cellulosae antibodies. These individuals 69 (3.2%) showed signi ficant titers of antibodies. No single significant difference between the proportion of reactivity in Sarandi (6.6%) and in Marialva (4.7%) was observed (Z = 1,319, P = 0,0936), but it was significantly higher than that observed in Mandaguacu, Paicandu and Maringa (P < 0.01). Of these individuals, 47.9% were within 21-49 years old and 79.4% were of female sex. ''Headache'' (70.6%), ''faintness'' (57.4%), and ''convul sions'' (7.4%) were among the most frequent by reported, moreover case s of Taenia infections (22.1%) and the custom of eating uncooked beef (41.2%) or pork (27.9%) and meat containing cysticerci (25.0%) were al so related.