SEROEPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF TAENIA-SAGINATA CYSTICERCOSIS IN KENYA

A sero-epidemiological study of Taenia saginata cysticercosis was carr ied out to determine the prevalence and distribution of the infection in three provinces of Kenya. Serum samples and meat inspection records were collected from cattle at slaughter at export and district abatto irs. Cattle origin and the presence of T. saginata cysticerci were not ed as was the prevalence of other helminths such as Echinococcus granu losus and Fasciola gigantica. Serum samples were screened for circulat ing parasite antigen using a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked i mmunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA) and for ante-parasite antibody by indire ct ELISA (Ab-ELISA). Eighty per cent of the sera were collected from c attle from the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. The prevalence of T. sag inata cysticercosis and the other helminth infections varied between d istricts and was particularly high in Narok. Animal husbandry practice s in arid areas such as Narok may be particularly conducive to transmi ssion. The potential value of the Ag-ELISA for use in sero-epidemiolog ical studies was verified by this study. It detected at least twice as many cases as T. saginata cysticercosis as meat inspection and, of th e three methods investigated, was considered the most valuable.