Investigating risk factors and prevalence for neurocysticercosis: a case study of Busia District, Kenya

There has been a significant increase in pig production in the Eastern and Southern Africa region during the past decade (Githigia et al., 2002), (Thuranira, 2005), especially in rural, resource-poor, small holder communities. Accompanying this has been the emergence of porcine cysticercosis as a problem in many of these areas including western Kenya (Mutua et al., 2006).OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of neurocysticercosis among epileptics in Busia District, Western Province, Kenya and investigate the risk factors associated with neurocysticercosis (NCC).METHODS: A group of 628 epileptics were identified using hospital and Special School records, key informant interviews and snowball survey techniques and a standard questionnaire to assess risk factors for neurocysticercosis or taeniasis, administered. Household information was also collected and an asset index formulated for each patient's household (n=471). Sera was taken from 630 subjects and tested for exposure to T. solium using an antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag ELISA). The sera was also tested using an antibody (Ab) ELISA which tested for cysticercosis (metacestode exposure) and enzyme-linked immunotrarisfer blot assay (EITB, Western Blot) which tested for taeniasis and cysticercosis. Univariate and multivariate analysis was conducted to investigate the factors associated with seropositivity.RESULTS: There was one positive case of neurocysticercosis found by Ag ELISA and 209 subjects tested positive for exposure by Ab ELISA. There were 10 positive results using the EITB, 6 were positive using ES38 and 4 using Lentil Lectin purified glycoprotein (LLPG).CONCLUSION: T. solium infections have multiple societal impacts including human health and productivity as well as livestock production and there needs to be further investigation into the burden of the disease