13th SAFEPORK 2019, One Health – Tear down interdisciplinary walls
Berlin, 27 August 2019
Luong Nguyen-Thanh1, Meghan Cook1, Sinh Dang-Xuan1,2, Phuc Pham-Duc1,
Hung Nguyen-Viet2, Anne Mayer-Scholl3, Dianna Meemken4, Fred Unger2
1 Center for Public Health and Ecosystem Research, Hanoi University of Public Health
2 International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Vietnam
3 Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, National Laboratory for Trichinella, Germany
4 Freie Universitaet Berlin, Institute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene, Section Meat Hygiene
Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, National Laboratory for Trichinella, Germany
Serological prevalence of human trichinellosis and
cysticercosis in Hoa Binh Province of Northwest Vietnam

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
OBJECTIVES
METHODS
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION
1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
• In Vietnam, pork and pork products play an important
role in food security which contributes more than 56%
of total meat intake.
• Each Vietnamese consumed approximately 29,7 kg
pork/year, among the highest countries in the world

INTRODUCTION
• According to the joint report of FAO and WHO in 2014, Taenia spp.
ranks 1st and Trichinella spp. ranks 8th of 24 food-borne parasites
assessed
Source: WHO, 2010

INTRODUCTION
Global distribution of Taenia solium cysticercosis/taeniasis
(Willingham et al., 2010)

INTRODUCTION
(1) Che Tao village, Mu Cang Chai
district, Yen Bai Province, outbreak of
1970.
(2) Quai To village, Tuan Giao district,
Dien Bien Province, outbreaks of
2001 and 2004 and 2010–2012 survey
on people living in the Quai To village
and people hospitalized in the Dien
Bien Hospital.
(3) Lang Cheu village, Bac Yen district,
Son La Province, outbreak of 2008
and 2010–2012 survey on people
living in the Lang Cheu village and
people hospitalized in the Son La
Hospital.
(4) Muong Lat village, Muong Lat
district, Thanh Hoa Province,
outbreak of 2012.
Ha = Hanoi capital where Trichinella sp.
was first detected in two pigs (0.04%)
in 1923
30/100
positive
Ho = Ho Chi Minh city (formerly
Saigon) where a trichinellosis outbreak
from the consumption of pork from a
wild boar was documented in 1953.

INTRODUCTION
• In Vietnam, there were about 0.1-12.0% of people be
affected with trichinellosis and cysticercosis,
depending to the research area
• Sporadic outbreaks of those parasites have been
recorded in Vietnam, and linked to the indigenous
pig raised in ethnic community
• In the past 18 year, there were 5 trichinellosis
outbreaks with 140 cases and 15 deaths,
concentrated in the Northern mountainous area in
Vietnam
• Human cysticercosis is distributed in over 50 of 63
provinces, with the prevalence was 1.0-7.2% in the
North and 4.3% in the South of the country

INTRODUCTION
Risk factors to parasitic
diseases among pork value
chain
 Free or semi
roaming raising
 Pig is slaughtered
at home or
uninspected
slaughterhouse
 Consume
raw/uncooked
pork
Pig
Middeman
Pig Collector
Pig from
Farms
Large scale Pig
Slaughterhouse
Small/medium scale Pig
Slaughterhouse
Pork butchers/
wholesalers
Pork retailers
Pork plant
for Export
Pork retailers in
urban
Domestic
consumption
(98-99%)
Export
(1-2%)
Super-
market

OBJECTIVES
• Determine the seroprevalence of human trichinellosis
and cysticercosis in Da Bac district, Hoa Binh
province, Vietnam in 2018
• Describe eating behavior and factors associated with
the risk of trichinellosis and cysticercosis among
people living in mountainous area in Vietnam

METHODS
Commune No. HH % HH
No.
sample
Cao Son 1074 0,24 70
Doan Ket 744 0,17 51
Giap Dat 493 0,11 35
Muong Chieng 640 0,15 44
Tan Minh 962 0,22 66
Trung Thanh 496 0,11 34
Total 4409 1,00 300
A total of 300 respondents from 6
communes were enrolled in the study

METHODS
Data and sample collection
+ Interview with structured questionnaire
+ Blood sampling: The required volume were
approximately 3-4 ml, Blood samples were kept at 4
degrees Celsius during transportation and were
preserved at -20 degrees Celsius in the laboratory
before testing.
+ Trichinellosis: Demeditec ® Trichinella spiralis IgG
ELISA DETRIG0480, Germany
+ Cysticercosis: Apdia ® Cysticercosis Antigen ELISA
Ref 650501, Belgium)
Additional on-farm sampling in pig farms of the same
communities (to be presented by Hung Nguyen)

RESULTS & DISCUSSION
74,8 73,2
16,5
54,9
46,2
7,5
Commune
Total of
sample
Trichinellosis Cysticercosis
Positive Suspected Positive Suspected
Cao Son 70 0 (0) 1 (0.33) 0 (0) 1 (0.33)
Doan Ket 51 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Giap Dat 35 1 (0.33) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Muong Chieng 44 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Tan Minh 66 1 (0.33) 2 (0.67) 2 (0.67) 0 (0)
Trung Thanh 34 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Total 300 2 (0.67) 3 (1.0) 2 (0.67) 1 (0.33)
Figure 1. Seroprevalence of trichinellosis and cysticercosis

RESULTS & DISCUSSION
Figure 2. The difference of OD value between male and female
Negative zone
Negative zone

RESULTS & DISCUSSION
Study Location Disease Prevalence
Nga et al (2014) Dien Bien & Son La;
Vietnam
Trichinellosis 3.5%
Duong et al (2017) Dien Bien, Son La, Yen Bai,
Thanh Hoa; Vietnam
Trichinellosis 5.1%
Okello et al (2014) Lao PDR Human taeniasis
Cysticercosis
46.7%
66.7%
Lin. H et al (2017) Ha Tinh; Vietnam
Bac Kan; Vietnam
Cysticercosis
Cysticercosis
0.6%
5.3%
Our Study (2018) Hoa Binh, Vietnam Trichinellosis
Cysticercosis
0.67%
0.67%

RESULTS & DISCUSSION
74,8 73,2
16,5
54,9
46,2
7,5
Figure 3. Characteristics of positive and suspected
cases of trichinellosis and cysticercosis

RESULTS & DISCUSSION
74,8 73,2
16,5
54,9
46,2
7,5Figure 4. Risk factors and further details related to positive and
suspected cases of trichinellosis and cysticercosis

RESULTS & DISCUSSION
81.9 81.5 81.7
18.1 18.5 18.3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Male Female Total
Tay ethnic Others ethnic
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Flushing toilet Double-vault Pit-latrine No toilet
Toilet model
Figure 5. Demographic of participants

RESULTS & DISCUSSION
74,8 73,2
16,5
54,9
46,2
7,5
Figure 6. Eating behaviour comparing between
male and female
74.8% 73.2%
16.5%
46.2%
54.9%
7.5%

CONCLUSION
74,8 73,2
16,5
54,9
46,2
7,5
- Trichinellosis and cysticercosis occur sporadic in the study
area and can pose a public health risk to consumers
- Knowledge on both zoonoses was limited
- Further research and services are required to identify and
treat areas where infections are concentrated, acting as
reservoirs
- Qualitative research to explore drivers that underlie
reported risk factors and observed trends would be
beneficial
- Using a One Health approach can help the intervention
more effective.

NEXT STEP
74,8 73,2
16,5
54,9
46,2
7,5
- Link human results with results for pigs including farm
management risk factors
- Joint One Health awareness campaigns combined with
other food safety project (SAFE Pork) targeting:
- consumers
- pig farmers
- butchers

Acknowledgement
74,8 73,2
16,5
54,9
46,2
7,5