Taenia solium—also called pork tapeworm—is a parasite which causes disease around the world, particularly in very poor communities with deficient santiation and where pigs roam free. Researchers have now analyzed the efficacy and adverse effects of three chemotherapeutics against T. solium and report their results in a review published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

In its adult form, T. solium causes an intestinal infection known as taeniasis. Humans can become infected with taeniasis when they eat raw or undercooked, infected pork that contains T. solium larvae. A cysticerci form of disease can also develop when humans or pigs ingest the tapeworm eggs; this form can lead to muscle and central nervous system symptoms including seizures (epilepsy if they are recurrent). In endemic countries, T. solium can be responsible for approximately 30% of epilepsy cases. However, in specific communities this can be up to 70%.

In the new work, Michelle Haby of the University of Sonora, Mexico, and colleagues reviewed existing literature on three existing deworming drugs which have shown some efficacy in treating taeniasis. The drugs are albendazole (ALB), praziquantel (PZQ) and niclosamide (NICL). 20 studies met the inclusion criteria for the review; 11 used a before-after study design while 9 were controlled trials. The drug tested was ALB in 7 studies, NICL in 4 studies, PZQ in 7 studies, and a combination of PZQ and NICL in two studies.

Meta-analysis showed that a single dose of PZQ 10 mg/kg cured 99.5% of T. solium taeniasis; ALB 400 mg per day for three consecutive days led to a 96.4% cure rate; and NICL 2g led to a 84.3% cure rate. Less effective were PZQ 5mg/kg, with a 89.0% cure rate, and a single dose of ALB 400 mg, with a 52.0% cure rate. Most studies reported no or only mild and transient side effects following administration of the drugs.

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