a b s t r a c t
Taenia solium is the causative agent of neurocysticercosis, a disease responsible for substantial human
morbidity and mortality. It is a zoonotic parasite, involving pigs as intermediate hosts. The parasite’s full
life cycle is restricted to poor people in developing countries. Attempts to date to control transmission of
the parasite have been relatively poorly effective and not sustainable. Over the past decade research has
been undertaken to develop practical vaccines for use in pigs to prevent transmission of T. solium. The
most effective of these vaccines in controlled experimental trials has been the TSOL18 vaccine. More
recently, TSOL18 has been proven to be highly effective against naturally acquired infection with T. solium
in pigs. Application of TSOL18 together with a single treatment of pigs with oxfendazole achieved the
complete elimination of transmission of the parasite by pigs involved in the field trial. This strategy
may provide a relatively low cost and sustainable control tool which could assist towards the goal of
achieving eradication of the parasite. An assessment is made of the potential value of various control
measures that are available for T. solium, and two options are suggested as potential parasite control
programs.