A scoping review of the frequency and clinical presentation of Taenia solium taeniasis and human cysticercosis/neurocysticercosis in Papua, Indonesia from 1970 to 2024
- 1Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- 2Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Clinical and Research Information Service, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- 3Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
Abstract
Background: Taenia solium taeniasis and cysticercosis, including neurocysticercosis (NCC), are neglected tropical diseases disproportionately affecting remote, resource-poor regions. As a leading cause of acquired epilepsy globally, T. solium poses a major public health challenge. Methodology/principal findings: This scoping review evaluated available literature on the prevalence of T. solium taeniasis and cysticercosis/NCC, clinical manifestations associated with infection, and diagnostic approaches used in Papua, Indonesia, from 1970 to 2024, following the PRISMA-ScR checklist. From 1,708 identified records, 28 articles underwent data extraction. Pooled prevalence estimates from studies conducted between 2007 and 2015 that used Enzyme-linked Immunoelectrotransfer Blot (EITB) indicated a taeniasis prevalence of 2.0% [95% CI: 1.0% – 6.0%] among household members in Central Papua and 3.0% [95% CI: 1.0% – 10.0%] in Highland Papua households. Furthermore, the pooled prevalence for residents in Central Papua positive by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for cysticercosis (studies from 1969-2015) was 5.0% [95% CI: 2.0% – 13.0%] compared to 29.0% [95% CI: 18.0% – 43.0%] in Highland Papua (studies from 1996-2011). Among 135 patients with headaches and/or seizures from both Central and Highland Papua (studies from 1998-2005), the pooled prevalence for ELISA-positive cysticercosis was 32.0% [95% CI: 9.0% – 69.0%]. Seizures were observed in 19.0% [95% CI: 12.0% – 28.0%] of villagers in Jayawijaya Regency that were ELISA positive for Taenia solium cysticercosis (studies from 1996-2001), with 35.0% [95% CI: 9.0% – 75.0%] presenting with subcutaneous nodules. Across all articles, only one study reported the use of brain computed tomography (CT) imaging for confirming NCC, indicating extremely limited access to neuroimaging in the region. Conclusions/significance: Improving access to gold-standard CT imaging for NCC diagnosis, adopting standardized criteria for NCC diagnosis and management, and targeted public health interventions are urgently needed to reduce the burden of T. solium in Papua. Author summary: In this study, we reviewed literature on human infection with the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, in the Papua region of Indonesia between 1970 and 2024. This parasite circulates between pigs and humans and can cause serious health issues when the cyst stage infects the brain, resulting in neurocysticercosis. We found that reported infections were most common in Central and Highland Papua provinces, with seroprevalence estimates often exceeding 40% for cysticercosis in community-based studies. However, almost all identified studies used non-gold standard testing methods. These findings reveal a long-term public health problem that has not been fully recognized or addressed by public health policy makers. Future research and health programs should focus on improving testing methods, disease monitoring, and community hygiene and food safety.
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BibTeX
@article{rifai2026scoping,
title = {{A scoping review of the frequency and clinical presentation of Taenia solium taeniasis and human cysticercosis/neurocysticercosis in Papua, Indonesia from 1970 to 2024}},
author = {Ainrisq A. Rifai and Laura M. Rey and Molly E. Crews and Guilherme G. Verocai and Martial L. Ndeffo-Mbah and Christine M. Budke},
journal = {PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0014702},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014702},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A scoping review of the frequency and clinical presentation of Taenia solium taeniasis and human cysticercosis/neurocysticercosis in Papua, Indonesia from 1970 to 2024
AU - Ainrisq A. Rifai
AU - Laura M. Rey
AU - Molly E. Crews
AU - Guilherme G. Verocai
AU - Martial L. Ndeffo-Mbah
AU - Christine M. Budke
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/08
JO - PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0014702
UR - https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014702
AB - Background: Taenia solium taeniasis and cysticercosis, including neurocysticercosis (NCC), are neglected tropical diseases disproportionately affecting remote, resource-poor regions. As a leading cause of acquired epilepsy globally, T. solium poses a major public health challenge. Methodology/principal findings: This scoping review evaluated available literature on the prevalence of T. solium taeniasis and cysticercosis/NCC, clinical manifestations associated with infection, and diagnostic approaches used in Papua, Indonesia, from 1970 to 2024, following the PRISMA-ScR checklist. From 1,708 identified records, 28 articles underwent data extraction. Pooled prevalence estimates from studies conducted between 2007 and 2015 that used Enzyme-linked Immunoelectrotransfer Blot (EITB) indicated a taeniasis prevalence of 2.0% [95% CI: 1.0% – 6.0%] among household members in Central Papua and 3.0% [95% CI: 1.0% – 10.0%] in Highland Papua households. Furthermore, the pooled prevalence for residents in Central Papua positive by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for cysticercosis (studies from 1969-2015) was 5.0% [95% CI: 2.0% – 13.0%] compared to 29.0% [95% CI: 18.0% – 43.0%] in Highland Papua (studies from 1996-2011). Among 135 patients with headaches and/or seizures from both Central and Highland Papua (studies from 1998-2005), the pooled prevalence for ELISA-positive cysticercosis was 32.0% [95% CI: 9.0% – 69.0%]. Seizures were observed in 19.0% [95% CI: 12.0% – 28.0%] of villagers in Jayawijaya Regency that were ELISA positive for Taenia solium cysticercosis (studies from 1996-2001), with 35.0% [95% CI: 9.0% – 75.0%] presenting with subcutaneous nodules. Across all articles, only one study reported the use of brain computed tomography (CT) imaging for confirming NCC, indicating extremely limited access to neuroimaging in the region. Conclusions/significance: Improving access to gold-standard CT imaging for NCC diagnosis, adopting standardized criteria for NCC diagnosis and management, and targeted public health interventions are urgently needed to reduce the burden of T. solium in Papua. Author summary: In this study, we reviewed literature on human infection with the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, in the Papua region of Indonesia between 1970 and 2024. This parasite circulates between pigs and humans and can cause serious health issues when the cyst stage infects the brain, resulting in neurocysticercosis. We found that reported infections were most common in Central and Highland Papua provinces, with seroprevalence estimates often exceeding 40% for cysticercosis in community-based studies. However, almost all identified studies used non-gold standard testing methods. These findings reveal a long-term public health problem that has not been fully recognized or addressed by public health policy makers. Future research and health programs should focus on improving testing methods, disease monitoring, and community hygiene and food safety.
SN - 1935-2735
ER -