Dogs as alternative intermediate hosts of Taenia solium in Papua (Irian Jaya), Indonesia confirmed by highly specific ELISA and immunoblot using native and recombinant antigens and mitochondrial DNA analysis

Abstract

Serology (ELISA and immunoblot) using native glycoproteins, affinity purified glycoproteins, and a recombinant antigen is known to be highly specific to Taenia solium cysticercosis in humans and pigs. These techniques were applied for dogs in the highly endemic area of cysticercosis in Papua (Irian Jaya), Indonesia. Analysis of dog sera by both ELISA and immunoblot revealed 7 of 64 dogs were highly positive. Examination of two sero-positive dogs revealed cysticerci of T. solium in the brain and heart of these dogs. Mitochondrial DNA analysis confirmed that they were the same as T. solium previously confirmed from pigs and biopsies from local people from Irian Jaya. It is suggested that the life cycle of T. solium may be completed not only between humans and pigs but also between humans and dogs.

The present situation and towards the prevention and control of neurocysticercosis on the tropical island, Bali, Indonesia

“…However, dogs can also become infected with cysticerci through the ingestion of parasite eggs [34]. Although it is conceived that humans were only obligatory intermediate host when this parasite emerged as a human parasite without involvement of pigs, humans are now paratenic hosts unless cannibalisms happen under extremely chaotic unusual conditions [35,36].…”

Recent advances and perspectives in molecular epidemiology of Taenia solium cysticercosis

“…Although the eggs are infective not only to swine and humans but also dogs, and the range of potential intermediate hosts is broader than swine and dogs (Hoberg et al, 2001;Ito et al, 2002a), the life cycle of this parasite is usually completed between humans (tapeworm carriers, definitive host) and pigs (intermediate host). Therefore, T. solium is now considered to be the most important foodborne parasite globally (Robertson et al, 2013(Robertson et al, , 2014 and so, rationally eradicable disease (Schantz et al, 1983;Pawlowski et al, 2005;Flisser et al, 2006;Pawlowski, 2006Pawlowski, , 2008Schantz, 2006;García et al, 2007;WHO, 2010) but difficult due to poverty, lack of education, traditional culture, etc.…”

“…Without necropsy of pigs to confirm infection with T. solium, it is not clear whether the antigen-ELISA positive results are from contamination with T. hydatigena, since the monoclonal antibody was prepared against metacestodes of T. saginata and is highly possibly cross-reactive to other Taenia species (Brandt et al, 1992;Fleury et al, 2003;Dorny et al, 2004;Ito, 2013Ito, , 2015. Furthermore, local people in many Asian countries love to eat dog meat (Hoberg et al, 2001;Ito et al, 2002aIto et al, , 2005. Therefore, there may be additional alternative but minor transmission of T. solium between dogs and humans (Ito et al, 2002a).…”

“…Furthermore, local people in many Asian countries love to eat dog meat (Hoberg et al, 2001;Ito et al, 2002aIto et al, , 2005. Therefore, there may be additional alternative but minor transmission of T. solium between dogs and humans (Ito et al, 2002a). Pigs are scavengers and get infection with eggs of T. solium from human feces and those of T. hydatigena from dog feces, whereas dogs are scavengers and get infection with eggs of T. solium from human feces (Ito et al, 2002a).…”

“…Therefore, there may be additional alternative but minor transmission of T. solium between dogs and humans (Ito et al, 2002a). Pigs are scavengers and get infection with eggs of T. solium from human feces and those of T. hydatigena from dog feces, whereas dogs are scavengers and get infection with eggs of T. solium from human feces (Ito et al, 2002a). So far we know, there is no report stressing the importance of dogs in cysticercosis endemic areas which interferes the sound prevalence of T. solium in pigs.…”