# name
Epidemiology and economic impact of bovine cysticercosis and
                taeniosis caused by Taenia saginata in northeastern Spain
                (Catalonia)

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
Background: In Catalonia (north-eastern Spain), Taenia saginata has been described in cattle but its occurrence in
humans is unclear. Moreover, whether cattle acquired the infection in Catalonia or outside Catalonia and its economic
impact have not been investigated. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and spatial distribution of bovine
cysticercosis in Catalonia (2008–2015), and the burden from T. saginata upon the animal and human sectors in Catalonia
(2013–2015).
Methods: Data on cattle diagnosed with cysticercosis at meat inspection were collected and analysed. Cattle movement
history was used to identify the most likely place of bovine cysticercosis infection and to investigate its spatial distribution.
Data on taeniosis treatment (niclosamide and praziquantel) costs and their supply in Catalonia as well as data on patients
attending primary care with diagnosis of taeniosis were collected. The financial impact associated with T. saginata due to
carcasses condemned and frozen, meat inspection and human taeniosis was estimated.
Results: During 2008–2015, between 18 and 107 cattle were found positive for cysticercosis each year (prevalence at
slaughter of 0.010%). Movement history was available for 44% of the infected cattle and in 53% of them Catalonia was
identified as the place where the infection was acquired with highest probability. Two significant bovine cysticercosis
clusters were detected. The number of patients diagnosed with taeniosis in primary care during the period 2013–2016
was 41–63/year. The overall economic impact of T. saginata (2013–2015) amounted to 154,903 €/year
(95% CI: 113,075–196,762). Meat inspection accounted for 81.9% (95% CI: 75.8–86.2%) of the costs, followed by costs due
to carcass condemnation and freezing (9.4%; 95% CI: 6.9–12.8%), and taeniosis-associated costs (8.7%; 95% CI: 6.7–11.6%).
Costs due to freezing and condemnation of carcasses reached 19,442 €/year (95% CI: 17,528–21,391)
(509 €/lightly infected carcass and 1,140 €/heavily infected carcass). Taeniosis-associated costs were estimated
at 12,848.5 €/year (237 €/patient).
Conclusions: The public health risk of T. saginata in the area seems to be low. The economic impact due to T. saginata
was mainly attributed to meat inspection. The cost due to carcass condemnation and freezing was limited compared to
the revenue of the beef sector. Developing and implementing risk-based surveillance is needed to lower the costs of
meat inspection. Considering cattle movements might be useful in the development of such a strategy.

# metadata.dc.source[].value
Articles publicats en revistes (ISGlobal)

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Epidemiology and economic impact of bovine cysticercosis and
                taeniosis caused by Taenia saginata in northeastern Spain
                (Catalonia)