Molecular Confirmation of Autochthonous Taenia saginata Infection, Timor-Leste, 2019

In 2019, a case of autochthonous (locally acquired) Taenia saginata infection was molecularly confirmed in Timor-Leste. As part of a national monitoring program, fecal samples were collected from 1,121 schoolchildren. Initial screening revealed that 4 children (0.4% prevalence) were positive for Taenia spp. eggs. Intact tapeworm segments were recovered from an 11-year-old girl in Dili, who had no history of international travel, confirming the local origin of the infection. Morphological analysis of the segments excluded Taenia solium, while genetic analysis of the mitochondrial cox1 gene definitively identified Taenia saginata. This finding fills a significant geographic data gap, as no previous data on taeniasis were available for Timor-Leste. The study highlights the need for integrated One Health control strategies.