The efficiency of larval Taenia crassiceps (Tcra) antigens was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to diagnose bovine cysticercosis. Three types of antigens were evaluated: total (T), total sonicated (Ts), and membrane (M); these samples included positive and negative control sera for cysticercosis, as well as sera for other pathologies. The sensitivity rates of ELISA were determined to be 85.0 and 81.25% for T antigen, 82.5 and 78.75% for Ts antigen, and 80.0 and 80.0% for M antigen, using cut-off points with standard deviations (SD) of 2 and 3, respectively; the specificity rates of ELISA were 47.5 and 58.75% for T antigen, 65.0 and 73.75% for Ts antigen, and 58.75 and 62.5% for M antigen, using 2 and 3 SD cut-off points, respectively. These results demonstrated that ELISA, which displayed a better performance in the detection of experimentally infected animals, had a higher sensitivity than the anatomical and pathological examination performed (during routine post-mortem inspections) in other studies. However, the post-mortem investigation is highly specific, and the specificity was higher than that of ELISA. Therefore, a combination of these diagnostic tests must be utilized for the accurate detection of bovine cysticercosis, demonstrating the practical applicability of ELISA. Key words: Bovine cysticercosis, ELISA, performance rates, Taenia crassiceps ResumoEnsaios foram conduzidos para avaliar a eficiência de antígenos de larva de Taenia crassiceps (Tcra) no teste ELISA para o diagnóstico da cisticercose bovina. Três antígenos foram avaliados: total (T), total sonicado (Ts) e de membrana (M). As amostras analisadas foram soros-controle positivos e negativos para a cisticercose, além de soros de bovinos com outras patologias. As taxas de sensibilidade para o teste ELISA foram respectivamente, com 2 e 3 desvios-padrão, 85,0 e 81,25% para o antígeno T, 82,5 e 78,75% para o antígeno Ts e 80,0 e 80,0% para o antígeno M; as taxas de especificidade, com 2 e 3 desvios-padrão, foram respectivamente: 47,5 e 58,75% para o antígeno T, 65,0 e 73,75% para o antígeno Ts e 58,75 e 62,5% para o antígeno M. Estes resultados demonstram que o ELISA, apesar de apresentar melhor desempenho em detectar animais experimentalmente infectados, apresentou taxa de sensibilidade superior ao exame anatomopatológico realizado durante a rotina de inspeção relatada

Cysticercosis can affect cattle which develop the larvae Taenia saginata. Despite the importance of cysticercosis for public animal health and for the economy, the epidemiological reality of such zoonosis in Brazil is little known. In the southeastern region of the State of Minas Gerais most of the data are obtained from the official Sanitary InspectionServices in slaughterhouses, but little information based on field data from live animals. In order to assess the epidemiological situation of bovine cysticercosis in small and medium-sized rural properties of four municipalities, located in the region of Triângulo Mineiro, we searched the occurrence and the major risk factors associated with transmission of the disease in those properties. We conducted a cross-sectional epidemiological study involving 68 properties located in rural areas of the four municipalities, where there were collected 1002 bovine blood samples and applied an epidemiological questionnaire. The serological diagnosis of cysticercosis was conducted by sorting through indirect ELISA test, and the suspected cases were subjected to Immunoblot for confirmation. This study revealed the prevalence of 4.7% of bovine cysticercosis in rural properties of the municipalities sampled from July to August 2013. The factors which were statistically significant for the transmission of cysticercosis were the expertise of those responsible for the property (OR 5.81 IC 1,), the family income ) and the water quality of the property (OR 9.40 IC 1.97-9.59). Other factors observed were of lower significance. These results identified the main factors which interfere in the transmission of bovine cysticercosis, allowing to subsidize preventive measures and to control this important zoonotic disease in the region of Triângulo Mineiro.

Cysticercosis affects cattle, which develop the larva of Taenia saginata after ingesting their eggs, which are released by humans. It is a parasite that is distributed worldwide. The use of geoprocessing allows a better definition of endemic areas and populations that face different levels of risk and thus creates a basis for specific control programs for each farming system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological situation of bovine cysticercosis in four municipalities in the Triângulo Mineiro region (Romaria, Iraí de Minas, Grupiara and Douradoquara), with special attention given to the influence of the hydrographic network on the spatial distribution of the disease. The properties sampled (68) for laboratory and epidemiological analysis (questionnaire) were also georeferenced. The risk factors were analyzed using the ArcGIS 10.1 program. The animals were submitted to immunodiagnostic tests (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot) for the diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis. After confirming the disease focus properties, the spatial distribution of the cases was analyzed in relation to the watershed of the region. The positive results for bovine cysticercosis on the properties of the municipalities of Romaria and Iraí de Minas were grouped together, which was a significant result (p < 0.01). Although the positive results for bovine cysticercosis in the municipalities of Grupiara and Douradoquara were randomly distributed (p = 0.27), the risk factor that proved to be statistically significant in the regression analysis for cysticercosis transmission was the water source from the river/ stream. From the analysis of the map based on the hydrography of the region, it can be observed that for the distribution of positive cases for bovine cysticercosis in the properties, the main risk factor was the interference of the rivers and their tributaries that fed the municipalities sampled. This study allowed the identification of the prevalence of the taeniasis-cysticercosis complex in the properties of the sampled municipalities (53.84% in Romaria, 45.45% in Grupiara, 37.03% in Iraí de Minas and 35.29% in Douradoquara). The results from this study will help in the prevention and control of this zoonosis in the researched areas. Key words: Bovine cysticercosis. Risk factors. Spatial distribution. Hydrography. ResumoA cisticercose acomete aos bovinos, que desenvolvem a larva da Taenia saginata, a partir da ingestão de seus ovos que são liberados pelos seres humanos. É uma parasitose que tem distribuição mundial. O uso do geoprocessamento possibilita melhor definição de áreas endêmicas e das populações sob diferentes níveis de risco, criando base para programas de controle específicos para cada sistema de criação agropecuária. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a situação epidemiológica da cisticercose bovina, em propriedades de quatro municípios da região do Triângulo Mineiro (Romaria, Iraí de Minas, Grupiara e Douradoquara), com especial atenção sobre a influência da rede hidrog...

RESUMO Com o objetivo de avaliar a situação epidemiológica da cisticercose suína e bovina na zona rural de cinco municípios, distribuídos em três distintas regiões do estado de Minas Gerais, foi determinada a prevalência das cisticercoses bovina e suína nas propriedades rurais e os principais fatores de risco que poderiam favorecer a transmissão e manutenção da doença nas referidas propriedades. A pesquisa abrangeu 388 propriedades, localizadas em 91 diferentes comunidades rurais, sendo coletadas 1.792 amostras de sangue bovino e 554 de suíno. Além da avaliação das referidas amostras laboratoriais (ELISA indireto e imunoblot), também foram analisados os dados obtidos da aplicação de um questionário para cada propriedade, no qual constava as informações sobre as condições socioeconômicas, higiênico-sanitárias e as relacionadas ao sistema de criação animal. A prevalência da cisticercose variou de 0,3 a 5,9% nos bovinos e de 0 a 2,8% nos suínos criados artesanalmente nesses municípios pesquisados. Os principais fatores de risco de transmissão identificados foram a fonte de água consumida, a origem da carne, a natureza do município e da região, para a cisticercose bovina, e o destino do esgoto e o sistema de criação, para a cisticercose suína.

The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence and the main risk factors related to the transmission of bovine cysticercosis based on tracking animals sent for slaughter and coming from properties located in the micro-region of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The properties were previously evaluated for the occurrence of cysticercosis during post-mortem inspection in the 12 months prior to the beginning of the research, and those with animals with bovine cysticercosis found at least once during this period were considered positive. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 87 properties, from which 1024 bovine serum samples were collected. Indirect ELISA performed serological diagnosis and Immunoblot confirmed positive sera. The prevalence found in this study was 5.1% (95% CI = 3.74-6.42). The risk factors identified were cattle origin (RC = 4.9), grazing (RC = 6.4) and sewage destination on the property (RC = 3.6). These environmental factors suggest that sanitation control measures and the restriction of pastures beyond the property boundary can help prevent disease in the study area. A control system based on risk analysis was discussed and proposed as a strategy to control bovine cysticercosis in the Triângulo Mineiro region and other regions of the country.