Background
Infection with Taenia solium, the pig tapeworm is widely prevalent in human and swine hosts in many developing countries. Man is the only natural definitive host while pigs are the intermediate hosts. Occasionally man becomes an intermediate host on ingestion of eggs of the adult tapeworm, resulting in a condition known as human cysticercosis. The cysticerci of T. solium may lodge in the brain causing neurocysticercosis (NCC), causing headache, seizures, epilepsy, mental disturbance and death. NCC is the most prevalent parasitic infection of the brain in humans and it is a leading cause of epilepsy in endemic countries. Between 30 and 50 million people are infected worldwide and WHO estimates that cysticercosis causes about 50,000 deaths each year.
Recent studies have indicated that cysticercosis is highly endemic in Eastern and Southern Africa. In Zambia more than half of the village pigs were found to be infected and these pigs are currently sold and consumed because of lack of veterinary inspection and of knowledge. The prevalence and impact of human cysticercosis in Zambia remains largely unknown, especially because diagnostic facilities, including neuroimaging techniques, are virtually absent in the country. NCC is known to be endemic since many decades in Latin America, including Ecuador. There are, however, large regional differences that need to be elucidated. In Vietnam the infection is common in rural areas but here also the impact on human health is relatively poorly documented.
Current research
The main objectives of our research is
(1) improve diagnostic tests based on serology and molecular methods
The current antigen detection of T. solium using monoclonal antibodies raised against excretion secretion antigens from Taenia saginata can be used to detect active cysticercosis in humans. However, the use of this test in pigs is hampered by the occurrence of cross reactions with T. hydatigena. The objective is therefore to produce recombinant single domain antibodies (VHHs) derived from camelid heavy chain antibodies specific for Taenia solium cysticercosis. Hereto, 3 recombinant immune libraries were constructed after immunization of camelids with T. solium cyst fluid and T. solium excretion secretion antigens. Using phage display technique and biopanning, the libraries were screened for T. solium specific VHH antibody fragments. These VHHs will be characterized and adapted for use in a sandwich ELISA to detect active cysticercosis in pigs.
(2) to study the local epidemiology and identify risk factors for infection, through community-based studies
(3) to measure the impact on human health and on the communities
(4) to develop sustainable integrated control strategies through education, improvement of sanitary conditions, treatment and vaccination.
IN COLLABORATION WITH
National Reference Centre for Parasitology, McGill University Centre for Tropical Diseases
Institute of Molecular biology and biotechnology, Free University of Brussels (VUB)
Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru
University of Zambia
National Institute of Veterinary Research, Vietnam
Christian Medical college, Vellore, India
National Zoonosis and Food Hygiene Research Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal
International Centre for Zoonoses, Universidad Central, Quito, Ecuador
CONTACT
Prof. Dr. P. Dorny 
Prof. Dr. Jozef Vercruysse 
Publications since 2002
Erhart, A., Dorny, P., Van De, N., Vien, H.V., Thach, D.C., Toan, N.D., Cong, Le D.Geerts, S., Speybroeck, N., Berkvens, D., Brandt, J., 2002. Taenia solium cysticercosis in a village in northern Viet Nam: Sero-prevalence study using an ELISA for detecting circulating antigen. T Roy Soc Trop Med H 96, 270-272.
Phiri, I.K., Dorny, P., Gabriel, S., Willingham, A.L.III, Speybroeck, N., Vercruysse, J., 2002. The prevalence of porcine cysticercosis in Eastern and Southern provinces of Zambia. Vet Parasitol 108, 31-39.
Sato, M.O., Yamasaki, H., Sako, Y., Nakao, M., Plancarte, A., Kassuku, A.A., Dorny, P., Geerts, S., Benitez-Ortiz, W., Hashiguchi, Y., Ito, A., 2002. Evaluation of tongue inspection and serology for diagnosis of Taenia solium cysticercosis in swine: usefulness of ELISA using purified glycoproteins and recombinant antigen. Vet Parasitol 111, 309-322.
Zoli, A., Shey-Njila, O., Assana, E., Nguekam, J.P., Dorny, P., Brandt, J., Geerts, S., 2003. Regional Status, Epidemiology and Impact of Taenia solium cysticercosis in Western and Central Africa. Acta Tropica 87, 35-42.
Vondou, L, Zoli, A.P., Nguekam, Pouedet, S., Assana, E., Kamga Tokam, A.C., Dorny, P., Brandt, J., Geerts, S., 2002. Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis in the Menoua division (West Cameroon)]. Parasite 9, 271-274.
Pouedet, M.S., Zoli, A.P., Nguekam, Vondou, L., Assana, E., Speybroeck, N., Berkvens, D., Dorny, P., Brandt, J., Geerts, S., 2002. Epidemiological survey of swine cysticercosis in two rural communities of West-Cameroon. Vet Parasitol 106, 45-54.
Phiri, I.K., Ngowi, H., Afonso, S.M.S., Matenga, E., Boa, M., Mukaratirwa, S., Githigia, S.M., Saimo, M.K., Sikasunge, C.S., Maingi, N., Lubega, G.W., Kassuku, A., Michael, L.M., Siziya, S., Krecek, R.C., Noormahomed, E., Vilhena, M., Dorny, P., Willingham, A.L. III., 2003. The Emergence of Taenia solium Cysticercosis in Eastern and Southern Africa as a Serious Agricultural Problem and Public Health Risk. Acta Tropica 87, 13-23.
Dorny, P., Brandt, J., Zoli, A., Geerts, S., 2003. Immunodiagnostic tools for human and porcine cysticercosis. Acta Tropica 87, 79-86.
Willingham, A.L. III, De, N.V., Doanh, N.Q., Cong, L.D., Dung, T.V., Dorny, P., Cam, P.D., Dalsgaard, A., 2003. Current status of cysticercosis in Vietnam. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public H 34 (Suppl 1), 35-50
Rodriguez-Hidalgo, R., Benitez-Ortiz, W., Dorny, P., Geerts, S., Geysen, D., Ron-Roman, J., Proano-Perez, F., Chavez-Larrea, M.A., Barrionuevo-Samaniego, M., Celi-Erazo, M., Vizcaino-Ordonez, L., Brandt, J., 2003. Taeniosis-cysticercosis in man and animals in the Sierra of Northern Ecuador. Vet Parasitol 118, 51-60.
Zoli, A.P., Nguekam, Shey-Njila, O., Nforninwe, D.N., Speybroeck, N., Ito, A., Sato, M.O., Dorny, P., Brandt, J., Geerts, S., 2003. Neurocysticercosis and epilepsy in Cameroon. T Roy Soc Trop Med H 97, 683-686.
Shey-Njila, O., Zoli, P.A., Awah-Ndukum, J., Nguekam, Assana, E., Byambas, P., Dorny, P., Brandt, J., Geerts, S., 2003. Porcine cysticercosis in village pigs of North-West Cameroon. J Helminthol 77, 351-354.
Nguekam, Zoli, A.P., Ongolo-Zogo, P., Dorny, P., Brandt, J., Geerts, S., 2003. Follow-up of neurocysticercosis patients after treatment using an antigen detection ELISA. Parasite 10, 65-68.
Nguekam, J.P., Zoli, A.P., Zogo, P.O., Kamga, A.C., Speybroeck, N., Dorny, P;, Brandt, J., Losson, B., Geerts, S., 2003. A seroepidemiological study of human cysticercosis in West Cameroon. Trop Med Int Health 8, 144-149.
Nguekam, Zoli, A.P., Vondou, L., Pouedet, S.M., Assana, E., Dorny, P., Brandt, J., Losson, B., Geerts, S. 2003. Kinetics of circulating antigens in pigs experimentally infected with Taenia solium eggs. Vet Parasitol 111, 323-332.
Dorny, P., Phiri, I.K., Vercruysse, J., Gabriel, S., Willingham III, A.L., Brandt, J., Victor, B., Speybroeck, N., Berkvens, D., 2004. A Bayesian approach for estimating values for prevalence and diagnostic test characteristics of porcine cysticercosis. Int J Parasitol 34, 569-576.
Dorny, P., Brandt, J., Geerts, S., 2004. Immunodiagnostic approaches for the detection of Taenia solium cysticercosis. Trends Parasitol 20, 259-260.
Willingham, A.L., Schantz, P.M., Carabin, H., Torgerson, P.R., Budke, C., Cowan, L.D., Nash, T., Krecek, R.C., Michael, L.M., Dorny, P., Rodriguez-Hidalgo, R., Benitez-Ortiz, W., Geerts, S., Geyson, D., Ron-Roman, J., Proano-Perez, F., Chavez-Larrea, M.A., Barrionuevo-Samaniego, M., Celi-Erazo, M., Vizcaino-Ordonez, L., Brandt, J., Jenkins D.J., Lightowlers, M.W., Heath, D.D., Eddi, C., De Balogh, K., Lubroth, J., Amanfu, W., Speedy, A., Battaglia, D., 2004 . Assessing the burden of Taenia solium cysticercosis and Echinococcosis. Vet Parasitol 125, 183-202.
Phiri, I.K., Dorny, P., Gabriel, S., Willingham, A.L. III, Sikasunge, C., Siziya, S, Vercruysse, J., 2005. Assessment of routine inspection methods for porcine cysticercosis in Zambian village pigs. J Helminthol 80, 69-72.
Rodriguez-Hidalgo, R., Benitez-Ortiz, W., Praet, N., Saa, L.R., Vercruysse, J., Brandt, J., Dorny, P., 2006. Taeniasis-cysticercosis in Southern Ecuador: assessment of infection status using multiple laboratory diagnostic tools. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 101, 779-782.
Somers, R., Dorny, P., Nguyen, V.K., Dang, T.C., Goddeeris, B., Craig, P.S., Vercruysse, J., 2006. Taenia solium taeniasis and cysticercosis in three communities in north Vietnam. Trop Med Int Health 11, 65-72.
Somers, R., Dorny, P., Geysen, D., Nguyen, L.A., Thach, D.C., Vercruysse, J., Nguyen, V.K., 2007. Human tapeworms in north Vietnam. T Roy Soc Trop Med H 101, 275-277.
Sikasunge, C.S., Phiri, I.K., Phiri, A.M., Dorny, P., Siziya, S., Willingham, A.L. 3rd., 2007. Risk factors associated with porcine cysticercosis in selected districts of Eastern and Southern provinces of Zambia. Vet Parasitol 143, 59-66.
Assana, E., Kanobana, K., Tume, C.B., Zoli, P.A., Nguekam, Geerts, S., Berkvens, D., Dorny, P. 2006. Isolation of a 14kDa antigen from Taenia solium cyst fluid by HPLC and its evaluation in enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of porcine cysticercosis. Res Vet Sci 82, 370-376.
Prado-Jean, A., Kanobana, K., Druet-Cabanac, M., Nsengyiumva, G., Dorny, P., Preux, P.M., Geerts, S., 2007. Combined use of an antigen and antibody detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for cysticercosis as tools in an epidemiological study of epilepsy in Burundi. Trop Med Int Health. 12, 895-901.
Sikasunge, C.S., Phiri, I.K., Phiri, A.M., Siziya, S., Dorny, P., Willingham, A.L. 3rd., 2007. Prevalence of Taenia solium porcine cysticercosis in the Eastern, Southern and Western provinces of Zambia. Vet J (in press)