Control
Slaughter testing
Most countries require some form of inspection of swine
carcasses at slaughter for the presence of cysticerci. If
cysticerci are found, carcasses may be condemned or are
passed for cooking. Methods of inspection vary from visual to
invasive and are dependent, in part, on the relative prevalence
of the parasite. Some authors suggest that, unlike beef
cysticercosis, there are few light infections with T. solium (25),
so visual inspection of the tongue (a predilection site) and
other exposed and cut surfaces is sufficient. Other authors
believe that most infections are missed by traditional detection
methods (42,49). In one direct comparison, 75% of carcasses
which gave positive results by extensive necropsy were also
detected by visual examination and palpation of the tongue
(23). In some countries, an incision in the region of the triceps
muscle is also performed as part of the inspection for
cysticerci. Observations suggesting the presence of cysticerci