Cerebral cysticercosis in rural dogs

Cysticercus cellulosae was found in the brain of three (2.5%) out of 120 rural dogs investigated. The cysts were located in the ventricle, cerebral cortex and subarachnoid spaces. Two (1.7%) of the 120 dogs had dumb rabies and this was confirmed by biological tests. One of these dogs had both cysticerci and Negri bodies in the brain. Apart from locomotor imbalance no other typical clinical signs of rabies were observed. Dumb rabies and cysticerci in dogs being sold to people in rural communities pose potential public health hazards. In areas where dog flesh is used as a source of food, human cysticercosis may occur, and the danger of human rabies must not be overlooked. Environmental sanitation and public education are necessary in order to reduce the incidence of cysticercosis in rural dogs.