Experimental Taenia solium cysticercosis in pigs: Characteristics of the infection and antibody response

Pigs were infected with taeniid eggs to study the susceptibility to infection and reinfection of the animals of mixed breeds and of different ages, the viability and death of the metacestodes in the host tissue, and the antibody response which accompanies these events. Sixteen pigs were infected with Taenia solium eggs for this purpose. At necropsy metacestodes were counted in 2 kg of shoulder muscles and classified as vesicular or caseous, and all the metacestodes in brains were counted and classified. The results show that pigs inoculated at 49 and 60 days of age became infected to different degrees and reacted differently to the presence of parasites. In the brain the metacestodes remain viable for longer periods than in muscles. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed a significant rise in antibodies after infection, which started to decrease 92 days post-infection (p.i.). Pigs with viable cysts remained seropositive up to the end of the experiment (281 days p.i.). Antibody levels rose further after reinfection or after treatment. The results of Western blot were comparable to those of ELISA. Antigens of 13, 14 and 18 kDa were most frequently recognized in early infections and then started to decrease 92 days p.i., while the antigens of 42, 50 and 24 kDa were recognized during later stages of infection (200 days p.i.). Western blot did not detect the presence of cerebral metacestodes in those animals that had been treated and had no viable ones in muscles. The results suggest that older animals are more resistant to the infection.