Evaluation of ELISA, neck muscle, tongue and eyelid examinations for the diagnosis of swine cysticercosis in a highly endemic area of north India

Swine cysticercosis is very common in the developing countries where pigs are raised. Undercooked measly pork consumption leads to taeniasis; Taenia carriers act as source of human and swine cysticercosis and neurocysticercosis. Diagnosis of swine cysticercosis is important to break the cycle of disease transmission. The present study compared the neck muscle, tongue and eye examinations, and serum ELISA with different preparations (crude lysate, cyst fluid, scolex and cyst wall antigens) of Taenia solium cyst for the diagnosis of swine cysticercosis. Total of 24 pigs initially identified by neck muscle, tongue and eyelid examinations were purchased from local slaughter house and subjected to MRI for confirmation of cysticercosis. Sera from 20 MRI confirmed infected pigs and 50 disease free controls were subjected to ELISA with T. solium cyst antigens. Neck muscle examination was 100% sensitive and 75% specific for the diagnosis of swine cysticercosis, whereas tongue and eye examinations were 70% and 25% sensitive, respectively. ELISA with crude lysate had 85% sensitivity and 98% specificity. ELISA with cyst fluid, scolex and cyst wall antigens showed 70%, 65%, and 45% sensitivity, respectively. The present study showed that neck muscle examination was highly sensitive but less specific, while ELISA with crude antigens had reasonable sensitivity and high specificity for diagnosis of swine cysticercosis. ELISA with crude lysate can be used as a screening tool for swine infection.