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Assessing Ultrasonography As A Diagnostic Tool For Porcine Cysticercosis, Robert H. Flecker, Ian W. Pray, Saul J. Santivañez, Viterbo Ayvar, Ricardo Gamboa, Claudio Muro, Luz M. Moyano, Victor Benavides, Hector H. Garcia, Seth E. O'Neal

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background Taenia solium inflicts substantial neurologic disease and economic losses on rural communities in many developing nations. Ring-strategy is a control intervention that targets treatment of humans and pigs among clusters of households (rings) that surround pigs heavily infected with cysticerci. These pigs are typically identified by examining the animal's tongue for cysts. However, as prevalence decreases in intervened communities, more sensitive methods may be needed to identify these animals and to maintain control pressure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate ultrasonography as an alternative method to detect pigs heavily infected with T. solium cysts. Methodology/Principal Findings We …