Ridding Pasture of Taenia saginata ova by Grazing Cattle or Sheep

Extract

Beef measles is prevalent in many parts of the world. The two most important factors which allow the dissemination of the disease are, firstly, the insanitary methods of the disposal of human excreta, and secondly, the habit of eating beef raw or almost raw. To eradicate beef measles and Taenia saginata from a country where the inhabitants are eaters of raw beef, would be a costly and difficult undertaking. The fact that Taenia saginata infestation of man is a comparatively trivial disease and, therefore, does not induce many infested persons to seek treatment, is another difficulty in preventing its dissemination. Of 90 cases that came to our notice, 65 did so in reply to an offer of £5 reward for a complete tapeworm (1), and, although the average duration of infestation of these cases was 13 years, many had never previously sought treatment. We consider there are two main methods of preventing bovine cysticercosis. The first is to immunize the cattle against the disease, and the second is to prevent cattle from having access to Taenia saginata eggs. With regard to the second method, if means are undertaken to prevent Taenia saginaia ova from gaining access to a pasture previously contaminated with them, the problem still remains of getting rid of the ova which are already present. This paper considers the latter problem, and is specially applicable to farms irrigated with human sewage. It has been suggested that pastures may be ridded of Taenia saginata eggs by grazing sheep.