Comparison of Kato-Katz, PCR and coproantigen for the diagnosis of taeniasis.

Four methods were compared for the diagnosis of human taeniasis caused by Fecal samples from persons living in a endemic region of Madagascar were examined for taeniid eggs by the Kato–Katz method. Subsequently, samples positive ( = 16) and negative ( = 200) for eggs were examined by (i) amplification of the fragment of small subunit of the mitochondrial ribosomal RNA (S) gene using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and (ii) a nested PCR of a fragment of the gene. Additionally, 12 egg-positive and all egg-negative samples were tested for coproantigen detection.

Confirmation by necropsy of a high prevalence of porcine cysticercosis in a rural district of Madagascar.

Neurocysticercosis is recognized as an important health issue in the Malagasy population. To date, investigations into prevalence of infection with the causative agent, , in the parasite's natural animal intermediate hosts, have relied on serological methods which have been found to be non-specific. We determined the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis among pigs from a contiguous area of the Betafo and Mandoto administrative districts, Vakinankaratra Region, Madagascar.

Aggregation of cysticerci in pigs: Implications for transmission and control.

Parasite aggregation within hosts is a fundamental feature of parasite distributions, whereby the majority of parasites are harboured by a minority of hosts. Parasite aggregation can influence their transmission and hence control. In this narrative review, possible sources of aggregation of cysticerci in pigs are discussed, along with implications for control of the parasite.

Protection against cystic echinococcosis in sheep using an -expressed recombinant antigen (EG95) as a bacterin.

The EG95 recombinant vaccine is protective against cystic echinococcus in animal intermediate hosts. Preparation of the existing, registered EG95 vaccines involves semi-purification of the vaccine protein, adding to the cost of production. Truncation of the EG95 cDNA, shortening both the amino and carboxy-termini of the protein, leads to high levels of recombinant protein expression.

Chromosome-scale Echinococcus granulosus (genotype G1) genome reveals the Eg95 gene family and conservation of the EG95-vaccine molecule.

Cystic echinococcosis is a socioeconomically important parasitic disease caused by the larval stage of the canid tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, afflicting millions of humans and animals worldwide. The development of a vaccine (called EG95) has been the most notable translational advance in the fight against this disease in animals. However, almost nothing is known about the genomic organisation/location of the family of genes encoding EG95 and related molecules, the extent of their conservation or their functions.