Elsevier

Acta Tropica

Volume 87, Issue 1, June 2003, Pages 129-135
Acta Tropica

Review article
Vaccines for prevention of cysticercosis

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-706X(03)00030-5Get rights and content

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis due to Taenia solium infection is an important cause of human morbidity and mortality. Despite the availability of effective anthelmintics, the disease remains prevalent in many parts of the world and there is a need for new and improved measures for control of the infection. An effective vaccine to prevent infection in pigs, the parasite's natural intermediate host, would be a valuable new option to assist with T. solium control. Several approaches are being used currently towards the development of a T. solium vaccine and these approaches are reviewed briefly, with emphasis on the use of recombinant oncosphere antigens. Highly effective vaccines have been developed against cysticercosis in sheep and cattle caused by Taenia ovis and Taenia saginata, respectively. This success has encouraged the adoption of a similar strategy for T. solium. The recent finding that one oncosphere antigen, TSOL18, can induce complete protection against T. solium infection in pigs, highlights the potential for development of a practical vaccine. A vision is proposed for the development of a safe, effective, inexpensive vaccine for pigs, which can be administered in an edible form. Through an international collaborative effort, research is progressing towards the realisation of such a vaccine and its use to reduce the global burden of neurocysticercosis.

Introduction

Neurocysticercosis due to Taenia solium is well recognised as an important cause of human morbidity and mortality. Currently available measures for control of the disease are inadequate and there is a need for new and improved interventions. A strong argument can be made for vaccination playing a key role in T. solium control (Lightowlers, 1999). The vision to which we aspire is of a vaccine which can prevent T. solium being transmitted by pigs, the parasite's natural intermediate host; a highly effective vaccine, able to prevent infections in neonates as well as older pigs, an inexpensive vaccine which can be delivered via an edible biscuit, without the need for equipment or trained personnel. Through the combined use of anthelmintic treatment of tapeworm carriers, vaccination of pigs and public education about the disease, the parasite could be eradicated. This is a vision for the future, because the vaccine required does not currently exist. However, these are good reasons to believe that such a vaccine will be achievable and the recent demonstration of complete protection against cysticercosis in pigs using a recombinant oncosphere antigen (discussed below) highlights the rapid progress being made towards the development of a practical vaccine.

Several approaches are being used by different research groups towards the development of a vaccine to prevent porcine cysticercosis. These approaches are reviewed here with emphasis on the application of recombinant oncosphere antigens for vaccine development.

Section snippets

General aspects of the immunobiology of taeniid cestode infections

T. solium belongs to the cestode family Taeniidae which comprises two genera, Taenia and Echinococcus. There are a number of species, including several which infect humans, causing disease, or infect domestic livestock and cause economic loss. The economic and medical significance of these parasites has stimulated a substantial amount of research into the biology of the group, and their immunobiology in particular. Many of the immunological characteristics of the host–parasite relationship

Development of recombinant vaccines against cysticercosis in sheep and cattle

The recombinant antigen vaccine which was developed against cysticercosis caused by T. ovis in sheep (Johnson et al., 1989) was the first effective, defined antigen vaccine against a parasitic infection and has been recognised as a milestone in the history of parasitology (Cox, 1993). The T. ovis vaccine received provisional registration as a commercial vaccine in New Zealand in August 1990 although this was not followed by marketing due to commercial considerations (Rickard et al., 1995); the

Protection against cysticercosis in pigs using oncosphere antigens

In common with all other taeniid cestodes which have been investigated, oncosphere antigens of T. solium have been found to be a rich source of host-protective antigens (Pathak and Gaur, 1990, Plancarte et al., 1999, Verastegui et al., 2002). The rapid success which had been achieved with identifying host-protective recombinant antigens for T. saginata, encouraged the adoption of a similar approach for development of a vaccine against T. solium cysticercosis in pigs.

Investigations using

Other approaches to development of a vaccine against T. solium

Antigens derived from the rodent parasite Taenia crassiceps are being used as a potential source of host-protective antigens for T. solium. This concept is based on the well-established immunological cross-reactivity between host-protective antigens derived from different taeniid cestode species. Toledo et al. (1999) investigated recombinant antigens of T. crassiceps and identified proteins which could be used to vaccinate mice against an intraperitoneal challenge with the parasite's

Concluding remarks

The prospects are bright for the successful development of an effective, practical vaccine to assist with control of transmission of T. solium. The vision for a vaccine with the features expressed at the beginning of this article may not be attained for some time, however, the crucial beginnings have already been accomplished successfully and now vaccine delivery looms as a critical issue for implementation of a vaccine for T. solium cysticercosis. The vision for an edible, non-living vaccine

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to acknowledge the contributions made to the research program on taeniid vaccine development made by Charles Gauci and also by collaborating scientists with a special interest in development of a vaccine against T. solium, particularly Ana Flisser, Hector Garcia, Armando Gonzáles, André Zoli and Stanny Geerts. Charles Gauci made valuable comments in reviewing the manuscript. Funding to the author's laboratory is acknowledged from the National Health and Medical Research

References (32)

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