New study confirms high risk of pig tapeworm in Northern Uganda

UGANDA – Northern Uganda has been confirmed as a hyperendemic hotspot for the pork tapeworm Taenia solium, following a new study that found nearly one in five pigs in the region infected. 

The research, published in August 2025 in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, revealed a 17.4% prevalence of porcine cysticercosis, an infection in pigs caused by the parasite, raising alarm over risks to both animal and human health.

The study was conducted across four districts, Agago, Kitgum, Lamwo and Pader, by a team of researchers from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Makerere University, University of Edinburgh, University of Prince Edward Island, and local government veterinary offices. 

It aimed to validate geospatial risk maps predicting high-risk zones and to identify factors driving the spread of infection.

Lead researcher Dr. Lian F. Thomas explained that the findings confirm the urgent need for targeted interventions. 

“Our study provides evidence that northern Uganda is hyperendemic for Taenia solium. Without intensified control efforts, the cycle of infection will continue, putting both pigs and people at risk,” she said.

How the tapeworm spreads

Taenia solium, often referred to as the pork tapeworm, is a neglected zoonotic parasite that causes taeniasis and cysticercosis in humans and pigs. Transmission occurs when eggs from human carriers are ingested, often due to open defecation. 

Pigs become infected when they roam freely and consume contaminated material, while humans risk contracting neurocysticercosis, a severe form of the disease where cysts lodge in the brain, by ingesting the eggs. This condition is the leading cause of adult-onset epilepsy in endemic regions.

The Ugandan study found that pigs from households without toilets, those that were free-roaming, or those provided with borehole water were significantly more likely to test positive. 

Older pigs and non-local breeds also showed higher infection rates. Out of 164 villages surveyed, 104 reported at least one positive case, highlighting widespread environmental contamination.

“The clustering of cases within households and villages points to the role of sanitation and pig management practices in sustaining transmission,” the authors wrote.

Implications for public health

With nearly a quarter of households in the study area having at least one infected pig, the risk to humans is high. Inadequate pork inspection, food insecurity, and undercooked pork consumption exacerbate the danger. 

The researchers warn that without immediate interventions, Uganda’s northern districts could remain a reservoir for the parasite, undermining national and global eradication efforts.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has included Taenia solium cysticercosis in its 2021–2030 roadmap for neglected tropical diseases, recommending focused action in hyperendemic zones. 

The study’s authors endorse a One Health approach, calling for coordinated efforts to improve sanitation, pig husbandry, and community education, alongside treatment of both human and pig populations.

“Our results show that breaking the cycle of transmission requires addressing human, animal, and environmental factors simultaneously,” Dr. Thomas noted.

A roadmap forward

The validation of geospatial modelling in this study provides a tool to predict and confirm other high-risk areas, enabling policymakers to direct resources more effectively. 

Similar models have been used in East Africa for diseases like Rift Valley fever and malaria, but few have been validated with field data.

The researchers stress that sustained investment is needed, including further studies to refine diagnostic tools and assess environmental contamination. 

They also highlight the potential of ring treatment strategies, targeting interventions around identified human tapeworm carriers, as a complementary measure.

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