Effect of oxfendazole to control Taenia solium cysticercosis in pigs in Punjab state of India

Taenia solium cysticercosis is a neglected zoonosis prevalent in developing countries including India. The disease has a substantial health impact in India. The control of this disease in pigs would benefit both veterinary and public health. In view of this, the current study was designed to know the effectiveness of oxfendazole against T. solium in pigs reared in Punjab, India. A randomized controlled trail was designed with two groups of treatment (T1 and T2) and a control group. Pigs from ten different litters were selected. Pigs (4 months of age) from the same litter were randomly assigned into these three groups. Treatment 1 (T1) group pigs received oxfendazole@30 mg/kg body weight at 4 months of age, treatment 2 (T2) received oxfendazole@30 mg/kg body weight treatment at 9 months of age and the control group (C) received placebo at 4 months of age. Blood samples were collected at three intervals at the age of 4, 9 and 12 months. Sandwich antigenic ELISA was performed to determine the serological status of disease in pigs. Three piglets in treatment 1 were found positive at 4 months but were recorded seronegative in subsequent samplings. One pig in the control group was positive at 9 and 12 months of age. Results showed promising effects of oxfendazole for the control of T. solium cysticercosis in pigs of Punjab, India.