Taeniosis and cysticercosis in Serbia, 1990–2018: Significance of standard of living

Abstract Objectives As all of Southeast Europe, Serbia is a traditional endemic area for Taenia saginata and Taenia solium infections. We analysed the epidemiological data on taeniosis and cysticercosis in Serbia between 1990 and 2018. Methods Data on cases of T. saginata and T. solium infection were collected by a systematic search of published articles, grey literature and official reports, as well as by performing clinical observational studies of patients treated at the departments for infectious diseases in hospitals and university clinics of Serbia. Results A total of 212 cases of taeniosis were reported, all between 1997 and 2004 when taeniosis was notifiable (incidence range 0.04 - 0.9 / 100.000 population / year). From 1990 to 2018, 170 cases of cysticercosis (all but one of neurocysticercosis), were registered (incidence range from 0 up to 0.29 / 100.000 population / year), with a strong decrease since 2000 and a single case in the last nine years. The annual number of cases of both taeniosis (Pearson's r = 0.914, p = 0.001) and cysticercosis (Pearson's r = 0.582, p = 0.014) correlated with consumer price indices. Conclusion In Serbia, T. saginata and T. solium infections are autochthonous but occur only sporadically. However, the potential for re-emergence exists, depending on the socio-economic state of the country.