Prevalence of porcine cysticercosis among scavenging pigs in western Kenya

Background: Porcine Cysticercosis (PC) infection is globally classified as a neglected and re-emerging tropical disease. The disease is endemic in Western Kenya yet smallholder farmers continue to practice scavenging pig production, thereby posing public health risk. This study determined the prevalence of PC infection at the farms and slaughter slabs in a cross-sectional survey in two Counties (Busia and Kakamega) of Western Kenya. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and eighty-seven (287) heparinized blood samples were collected at the farm from 162 households in 9 villages and 113 pigs from 5 slaughter slabs. The prevalence of PC was detected through meat inspection at slaughter slabs, and the prevalence of Taenia solium antigen determined by using the ApDia AgELISA test at the farms and slaughter slabs. Results: At meat inspection, the PC prevalence was 1.8%, while prevalence of Taenia Species cysts detected with AgELISA test was 3.8% at the farms, and 5.3 % at the slaughter slabs. The Ag-ELISA test had sensitivity of 100% (95% CI: 19.79– 100.00) and specificity of 96.4% (95% CI: 90.49– 98.84). Conclusion: The PC prevalence levels observed among scavenging pigs in Western Kenya should be a cause of public health risk concern. This observation warrant enforcing mandatory pig confinement, and use of latrines at the farms and meat inspection at local slaughter slabs. Further studies are recommended to identify different Taenia species in cysticercoids pigs in the region, which this study could not differentiate. Keywords: Pig, Taenia spps, meat inspection, ELISA test, Slaughter slabs, Smallholder farmers

Assessing prevalence, biosecurity measures and lost carcass-value associated with porcine cysticercosis along pork value chain in western Kenya

Porcine cysticercosis (PC) infection is a zoonotic disease of public health concern globally, caused by Taenia solium larvae. The prevalence of PC infection is highest where domestic pigs scavenge for food in poor sanitary conditions. Western Kenya, especially peri urban areas, have a high concentration of domestic pigs reared under the scavenging system, which likely expose pigs and humans to PC infections resulting in huge economic losses. The objectives of this study were to determine PC prevalence, PC management practices and loss in carcass value associated with PC infection along the pork value chain in Busia and Kakamega Counties of Western Kenya. Data was obtained on random sample of 162 farms with 400 pigs in cross-sectional survey of randomly selected villages. PC infection was based on T. solium cysts presence and Ag-ELISA test. The mean prevalence of T. solium cysts within the scavenging pig’ population sample was 3.8 at the farms and 5.3% at the slaughter slabs while PC infection prevalence from meat inspection was 1.8%. Management practices at farm did not target controlling PC because majority of farmers reared pigs in free range scavenging (69.1%) though use of pit latrines (72.8%) was high but majority were not aware (82.7%) of the link between pig management system and PC, not aware (75.9%) of T. solium parasite and not aware (78.4%) of risk factors in the transmission of PC infection. The butchers associated pork from slaughter slabs (76.9%) and home slaughters (73.1%) with high risk. Consumers were in strong agreement that pork in the market is safe (86%), pork from the slaughter slabs is safer than pork from the farms (92%) and that pork from butcheries is safer than pork from the eateries (82%). PC infection in the sample villages was associated with an estimated annual loss of Kes 547,969.29 (US$5,478.70) worth of carcasses from meat inspection and would be Kes 1,613,465.10 (US$ 16,134.7) if carcasses were condemned on results of Ag-ELISA testing surveillance. While results provide evidence of PC infection being prevalent in Western Kenya and low awareness among farmers of management strategies for PC control and prevention, consumers perceive pork in the market as safe. The prevalence levels and low farmer awareness warrants enforcing mandatory pig confinement and effective use of latrines, effective meat inspection at local slaughter slabs and strengthening public education to create awareness on transmission risk factors and their control and prevention. Further studies should identify different Taenia species in cysticercoids pigs in Western Kenya to inform life cycles patterns for appropriate management intervention

Porcine Cysticercosis Control in Western Kenya: The Interlink of Management Practices in Pig Farms and Meat Inspection Practice at Slaughter Slabs

This study assessed the management practices for controlling porcine cysticercosis (PC) on pig farms and in pork at the slaughter slabs in two counties (Busia and Kakamega) of Western Kenya. A total of 162 pig-rearing households at the farm level, 26 butcher owners, and 26 slaughter slab workers at the slaughter slab level were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the “Statistical Analysis System” (SAS) programme. Results indicated that the frequent management practices used at the farm level (p<0.05) were rearing pigs under free range (69.1%), latrine ownership by households (87.7%), and use of pit latrines (72.8%) in households. At the slaughter level (p<0.05), results of the butcher owners (76.9%) and slaughter slab workers (62.5%) revealed that meat inspection was not practiced adequately in the two areas of study. The results imply that slaughtered pigs for human consumption were not adequately inspected, and thus, the study recommends for implementation of effective pig management practices at the farm level and pork meat inspection at slaughter slabs to prevent PC infections and assure food safety along the pork value chain