An outbreak of bovine cysticercosis in California

Approximately 4.75% of the animals sent to slaughter from a southern California feedlot during a 9-mo period were found to be infected with the cysticercus of Taenia saginata. An investigation of possible transmission sources revealed that the feedlot was the most likely site of infection. One feedlot worker was found to be infected with T. saginata, and the pen infection patterns and other physical relationships indicated that he was the source of infection. The following recommendations were made: 1) treatment of the infected worker; 2) education of employees as to the mode of transmission and personal hygienic practices; 3) addition of sanitary facilities; 4) maintenance of animal source and destination records; 5) inauguration of a surveillance program to include parasitologic examination of employees prior to employment and periodically thereafter; and 6) restriction of unauthorized personnel from critical areas.