Investigation of risk factors for porcine Taenia solium cysticercosis: a multiple regression analysis of a cross-sectional study in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

A cross-sectional survey for seropositivity to cysticercosis of pigs in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, was carried out in 1996 together with a standar dized questionnaire on predetermined individual pig and household risk fact ors for porcine infection. Serum samples from 697 pigs were analysed by imm unoblot for antibodies to Taenia solium cysticercosis and questionnaires fr om 227 households in 18 villages were collected. All the data were analysed using multivariate analytical techniques taking household clustering into account. The overall porcine seroprevalence in the area was found to be 29% . The most important risk factors for seropositivity in pigs were presence versus absence of a toilet (adjusted odds ratio [adj. OR] 2.37, P = 0.005), crowded households (adj. OR 1.75, P = 0.034) and both corralling (adj. OR 2.14, P = 0.017) and letting pigs loose (adj. OR 2.32, P = 0.035) versus ty ing them up. There was evidence of clustering at household level and that p ossible risk factors at municipal or village level may also interact with h igher risk management practices such as allowing pigs to run loose.