Prevalence and risk of cysticercosis and taeniasis in an urban population of soldiers and their relatives

To determine markers of Taenia solium transmission and risk factors in an u rban community, we studied 1,000 soldiers from a military camp in Mexico Ci ty and their relatives. Serum samples were used to detect antigens and anti bodies and fecal specimens were examined for Taenia coproantigens and helmi nth eggs. Prevalences of 12.2% and 5.8% for cysticercosis were found among soldiers and their relatives, respectively. Taeniasis was found in 0.5% and none of the groups, respectively. Relatives of soldiers positive for cysti cercosis and taeniasis markers ate more pork from street stores than restau rants or markets compared with relatives of soldiers without these indicato rs of infection. Also, 12.0% of the relatives of positive soldiers had a hi story of expelling tapeworm proglottids in the feces in contrast to 3.7% of the family members of the control group. Prevalence values and risk factor s in this urban population are similar to those of previous studies perform ed in rural populations.