DIAGNOSTIC PROTOCOLS FOR CYSTICERCOSIS IN SWINE: FROM FIELD TECHNIQUES TO ADVANCED SEROLOGICAL APPROACHES

Abstract

Porcine cysticercosis, a zoonosis caused by Taenia solium, represents a serious public health and economic problem, perpetuated by poor sanitary conditions. In vivo diagnosis remains challenging due to the clinical nonspecificity of the infection. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of field diagnostic protocols with advanced serological approaches. A narrative literature review was conducted using the PubMed database, including articles published within the last five years. The results demonstrated the low sensitivity of traditional techniques, such as tongue palpation and carcass inspection, which often underestimate the actual prevalence, detecting significantly lower rates compared to laboratory methods. In contrast, immunodiagnostic methods, particularly Ag-ELISA and Western Blot, showed greater accuracy, enabling the identification of circulating antigens and mild infections not visually detectable. It was observed that the choice of diagnostic method directly impacts epidemiological mapping and the identification of risk factors. It is concluded that the implementation of more sensitive serological diagnostics, integrated with vaccination and sanitation strategies, is essential for the effective control of the taeniasis–cysticercosis complex.