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Abstract
A sero-epidemiological survey of Taenia saginata cysticercosis was carried out to
determine the prevalence of the infection in cattle presented for slaughter in Belgium.
Between November 1997 and June 1998, a total of 1164 serum samples were collected
in 20 export abattoirs. Meat inspection was routinely carried out by veterinary inspectors.
Serum samples were examined for circulating parasite antigen using a monoclonal antibody-based
sandwich enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA). Thirty six serum samples (3.09%)
were found positive in the Ag-ELISA, while by meat inspection on the same animals
cysticerci were detected in only three carcasses (0.26%). Sero-prevalence was positively
correlated with the age of the animals. The sero-prevalence found in this study was
more than 10 times higher than the annual prevalence (0.26%) reported by the Institute
for Veterinary Inspection. This study clearly indicates that the classical meat inspection
techniques detect only a minor fraction of the carcasses infected with cysticerci.