Detection of Taenia solium cysticercosis in pigs by ELISA with an excretory-secretory antigen.

Serodiagnosis of Taenia solium cysticercosis in pigs was conducted by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with an excretory-secretory antigen. The antigen was obtained by in vitro cultivation of the cysticerci in a synthetic medium RPMI 1640. The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA in detecting infection in pigs reared on free range was 92% and 100%, respectively. In addition, 33.33% of pigs in which infection could not be detected at meat inspection were found positive by ELISA. However, none of the sera from a group of farm-reared pigs were positive. No cross reactions were observed in pigs that contained either the cysticerci of Taenia hydatigena or hydatid cysts.