Seroprevalence of cysticercosis, taeniasis and swine infection on Réunion Island in 1992

Cysticercosis is a parasitic disease commonly observed in developing countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Many cases involving cerebral injury have been reported on Reunion Island, a French department in the Indian Ocean. The present article describes the findings of a seroprevalence survey performed from September 1990 to May 1992 using an ELISA technique. Out of a total of 1010 individuals randomly selected from the voter registration records of the island's 24 polling districts, 993 agreed to be interviewed and undergo blood testing. Samples from 14 individuals were positive for cysticercosis, indicating a seroprevalence of 1.4% with 95% confidence interval from 0.7 to 2.1%. Seropositive individuals were evenly distributed throughout the island with no statistical difference regarding sex and age. A retrospective study showed that diagnosis of taeniasis was uncommon (less than 0.02% of stool examinations for parasites). Meat inspection records showed that no pork had be seized due to taeniasis since 1993 but raising of pigs by private citizens without veterinarian control is still widespread. Living conditions are improving and eradication of endemic cysticercosis seems achievable by enforcing zoning codes and educating people about the need for proper meat handling and treatment of taeniasis.