Title : Cysticercosis/T. solium taeniasis, a potential public health concern in non-endemic country, Kuwait: A new diagnostic method to screen T. solium taeniasis carriers among the expatriate population

Abstract:

Objective:
Kuwait is non-endemic for Taenia solium infection due to strict restriction on pig-farming and pork consumption however, several cases of cysticercosis and neurocysticercosis were detected among Kuwaiti nationals with no history of travel to endemic countries. Infected domestic helpers/food handlers from endemic countries who may have escaped detection of infection by microscopy at the time of their arrival into Kuwait were suspected as the possible source of infection. This study determined the seroprevalence of T. solium among domestic helpers/food handlers by screening of their blood using a sensitive taeniasis-specific anti-rES33 antibody assay.

Subjects and Methods:
Newly arriving domestic helpers (n = 500) and food handlers (n = 500) from endemic countries were enrolled during 2015 - 2017. T. solium-specific rES33 antigen was expressed and purified from human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293-6E cells using the pTT5 mammalian expression vector. Stool samples were processed for microscopy, and blood samples were screened to detect anti-T. solium taeniasis-specific IgG antibodies by ELISA.

Results:
All stool samples were negative for Taenia parasite eggs by microscopy. However, 42 individuals (4.2%) tested positive for T. solium taeniasis-specific IgG antibodies. Though statistically not significant, the IgG seropositivity was higher among individuals with lower education levels, low-income background, and higher frequency of hand washing.

Conclusions:
This is the first report from Kuwait and the Middle East on the detection of anti-T. solium taeniasis-specific serum IgG antibodies among the high-risk expatriate population. The results emphasize the importance of efficient and sensitive screening of T. solium carriers and thus the prevention of infection transmission and development of cysticercosis in the local population.

Biography:

Prof. Iqbal graduated in medicine from Punjab University, Pakistan, PhD from Stockholm, Sweden in 1994, and FRCPath from Royal College of Pathologists London. He has worked at the Institute Pasteur and as short time consultant with the WHO. Later he moved to Kuwait to work at the College of Medicine and Mubarak Al-Kabir teaching Hospital. In addition to his clinical and academic activities, he has published more than 60 research articles in international journals. His major research interest is to determine prevalence of tropical & parasitic infections in Kuwait and the Middle East and its associated risk factors.