Working Group 3

Control and prevention

Possible control/prevention tools for T. solium in endemic areas include a wide range of possibilities, such as treatment of the intermediate or final hosts, vaccination of the intermediate (T. solium, T. saginata), improved detection in intermediate and final hosts, change in farm management practices, improved sanitation and personal hygiene, education etc.

Cost benefit, applicability and acceptability by the local communities of these (combined) options need to be analysed (inputs from results obtained by WG1). Also, more new, innovative options should be explored (with inputs from WG2, see e.g. development of new vaccines or vaccine delivery mechanisms).

Control and prevention options of T. solium infections in non endemic areas such as the EU can be different and need looking into urgently, depending largely on the information obtained from WG 1 defining the specific risk factors related to EU infections (origin, etc.) and WG 1 and 2 recommendations on harmonized case management and disease notification.

Possible control/prevention tools for T. saginata include improved wastewater management and detection of bovine cysticercosis, e.g. by the use of serological methods (in addition to the normal meat inspection). Currently, meat inspection is being reviewed at EU level. The result of this review is not yet publically available, but can have an important impact. Most probably, the meat inspection of calves will be reformed, as they represent only a minor/negligible risk. Effective control programs should tackle multiple factors maintaining the life cycle of T. saginata, including the consumers, medical doctors, pharmacists, meat inspectors, veterinarians and farmers. This integrated approach should be coordinated at national and European level. Also here, measures will be based on information received from WG1 and 2.Obviously there is a need for a multidisciplinary team that will identify the best options, with a focus on new, integrated innovative systems.

The involvement of social scientists is essential in the identification, implementation and evaluation of control methods, especially concerning the acceptability of control programs by the population.