Maximising Societal Benefit From the Control of Neglected Zoonoses: Identifying Synergies and Trade-Offs in the Control of Taenia solium

Abstract

Interventions to control or eradicate neglected zoonoses are generally paid for through the public purse and when these interventions focus on the animal hosts, they are often expected to be performed and financed through the state veterinary service. The benefits of control, however, accrue across the human, animal, and environmental spaces and enhance both public and private interests. Additionally, disease control interventions do not take place in a vacuum and the indirect impacts of our actions should also be considered if the societal benefit of interventions is to be maximised. With the caveat that unintended consequences can and will occur, pre-identifying potential synergies and trade-offs in our disease control initiatives allows for them to be considered in intervention design and monitored during programme roll-out. In this paper, using a One Health approach with the example of Taenia solium control, we identify potential indirect impacts which may arise and how these may influence both our choice of intervention and opportunities to optimise the animal, environmental, and societal benefits of control through maximising synergies and minimising trade-offs.

Gender considerations in One Health: a framework for researchers

“…Gender considerations become very important due to issues related to Taenia solium transmission routes. Reused with permission from (38).…”

Structure of the pork value chain in Northern Uganda: implications for Taenia solium control interventions

“…At the production node, the uptake of best practices and inputs and services by pig producers is limited leading to adoption of semi-intensive and extensive production systems characterized by poor feeding and lack of housing which are known risk factors for PCC ( 4 , 22 ). The predominance of informal pork value chain processes characterized by a lack of organized trading channels, backyard slaughter points, and markets which are unresponsive to consumer preferences on pork products coupled with poor enforcement of meat inspection regulations, predisposes consumers to taeniasis, which perpetuates the T. solium life cycle ( 4 , 8 , 23 , 24 ). The outlined challenges combined with poor sanitation and poverty predispose pigs and humans to infections with Taenia solium cysticercosis and taeniasis, respectively.…”