Farmer Ma Thi Puong feeds her pigs on her farm near the northern town of Mieu Vac, Vietnam (photo credit: ILRI/Stevie Mann).
Overview
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization listed the top 10 foodborne parasites of global concern in humans, with cysticercosis (caused by Taenia solium) ranked the highest and trichinellosis (caused by Trichinella spiralis) seventh. Human cysticercosis is an under-recognized disease with a variety of clinical signs including epilepsy. Trichinellosis causes diarrhoea, muscle pain and fever in humans. Pig production is an important livelihood activity for ethnic minorities in Vietnam. Both indigenous breeds and wild pigs have traditionally been kept under extensive management systems facing various challenges (e.g. government policies favouring exotic pigs).
Project objectives
Gather information on the presence of cysticercosis and trichinellosis in indigenous pigs and ethnic commune members based on serology and records.
Determine the perception and awareness of indigenous pig farmers and other value chain actors on cysticercosis and trichinellosis
Address capacity gaps and diagnostic difficulties in using improved diagnostic or rapid tests
Develop and test promising interventions to reduce both parasitic foodborne diseases and promote a brand, ‘Healthy livestock and people’.
Start date: 1 January 2018 | End date: 31 December 2019
Funder
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany (BMZ)
Partners
National Institute for Veterinary Research, Vietnam
Hanoi University of Public Health, Vietnam
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam
Ministry of Health, Vietnam
Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Germany
Freie Universitaet Berlin
Contact
Fred Unger (f.unger@cgiar.org)
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