[Taenia saginata: an eternal problem?].

Although the official figures of the meat inspection services show that the number of Belgian slaughtering cattle, infected with cysticercosis decreased during the last 20 years from 0.3 to 0.03%, the data collected during this study, prove that the parasite is absolutely not dying out. Detailed examination of slaughtering cattle showed that 9.5% of them are infected with cysticerci of T. saginata. This discrepancy with the official figures is due i.a. to the inappropriate detection techniques used in the slaughterhouses. Contrary to Taenia solium, T. saginata in man is far from being eradicated. Based on the number of cestocidal drugs sold in Belgium since 1980, it can be assumed that T. saginata has an average annual incidence of 0.4%. In a second chapter some epidemiological features are examined, which might explain the remarkable stability of the taeniasis-cysticercosis complex in our modern society: i.a. the high biotic potential of the parasite, the efficient dissemination of T. saginata eggs in the environment and the role of the intermediate hosts. Finally it is shown that the eradication of T. saginata is not yet feasible for the moment. A series of specific control measures are proposed in order to avoid the infection of cattle with cysticerci as well as the infection of the final host with a tapeworm.