Taenia solium a zoonotic tapeworm, responsible for neurocysticercosis in humans is a major public health threat, being a leading cause of acquired epilepsy in endemic regions. Eastern and southern African nations have experienced a recent rapid growth in pig production, including small-scale, free-range systems, with an accompanying increased risk of T. solium transmission. Seven hundred blood samples were collected from randomly selected pigs presented for slaughter at one of the largest porcine abattoir supplying unprocessed pork to Nairobi city and its surroundings. The samples were tested using an antigen ELISA to determine the prevalence of infection with Taenia spp

Akoko, James M.

Alarcon, Pablo

Fevre, Eric M.

Gochoya, Julius M

Kang’ethe, Erastus

Kivali, Velma

MacLeod, Ewan

Muinde, Patrick

Muloi, Dishon

Murungi, Maurice K

Thomas, Lian F.

Parasite Epidemiology and Control

English

Background & methods: Taenia solium a zoonotic tapeworm, responsible for neurocysticercosis in humans is a major public health threat, being a leading cause of acquired epilepsy in endemic regions. Eastern and southern African nations have experienced a recent rapid growth in pig production, including small-scale, free-range systems, with an accompanying increased risk of T. solium transmission. Seven hundred blood samples were collected from randomly selected pigs presented for slaughter at one of the largest porcine abattoir supplying unprocessed pork to Nairobi city and its surroundings. The samples were tested using an antigen ELISA to determine the prevalence of infection with Taenia spp. Results: The prevalence, adjusted for diagnostic test characteristics, was estimated to be 4.4% (95% CI: 1.9–7.1) with no significant statistical difference by pig sex or age. Infection with Taenia spp. was detected in pigs from all regions of the country supplying pigs to this slaughterhouse. Official post-mortem inspection did not detect cysticercosis in the duration of the study. Therefore, all the carcasses entered the food chains of Nairobi (70%), or neighboring counties (30%). Conclusions: Circulating antigens of Taenia spp. were detected in pigs slaughtered in one of the largest porcine slaughterhouses in Kenya, which receives pigs from several regions in the country. This is an indication that pigs entering the value chain are raised under poor husbandry conditions and that pork consumers in Nairobi and its surroundings may be exposed to the important zoonotic parasite. Whilst further research utilizing full carcass dissection is required to confirm T. solium positive cases, interventions to improve food-safety throughout the pork value chains in Kenya should be seriously considered. Keywords: Taenia spp., Porcine cysticercosis, Epidemiology, Food safety, Value chain, Keny

James M. Akoko

Ewan MacLeod

Lian F. Thomas

Pablo Alarcon

Erastus Kang'ethe

Velma Kivali

Dishon Muloi

Patrick Muinde

Maurice K. Murungi

Julius M. Gachoya

Eric M. Fèvre

Directory of Open Access Journals

Detection of circulating antigens for Taenia spp. in pigs slaughtered for consumption in Nairobi and surroundings, Kenya

Background & methodsTaenia solium a zoonotic tapeworm, responsible for neurocysticercosis in humans is a major public health threat, being a leading cause of acquired epilepsy in endemic regions. Eastern and southern African nations have experienced a recent rapid growth in pig production, including small-scale, free-range systems, with an accompanying increased risk of T. solium transmission. Seven hundred blood samples were collected from randomly selected pigs presented for slaughter at one of the largest porcine abattoir supplying unprocessed pork to Nairobi city and its surroundings. The samples were tested using an antigen ELISA to determine the prevalence of infection with Taenia spp.ResultsThe prevalence, adjusted for diagnostic test characteristics, was estimated to be 4.4% (95% CI: 1.9-7.1) with no significant statistical difference by pig sex or age. Infection with Taenia spp. was detected in pigs from all regions of the country supplying pigs to this slaughterhouse. Official post-mortem inspection did not detect cysticercosis in the duration of the study. Therefore, all the carcasses entered the food chains of Nairobi (70%), or neighboring counties (30%).ConclusionsCirculating antigens of Taenia spp. were detected in pigs slaughtered in one of the largest porcine slaughterhouses in Kenya, which receives pigs from several regions in the country. This is an indication that pigs entering the value chain are raised under poor husbandry conditions and that pork consumers in Nairobi and its surroundings may be exposed to the important zoonotic parasite. Whilst further research utilizing full carcass dissection is required to confirm T. solium positive cases, interventions to improve food-safety throughout the pork value chains in Kenya should be seriously considered

Akoko, James M

Thomas, Lian F

Kang'ethe, Erastus

Gachoya, Julius M

Fevre, Eric M

University of Liverpool Repository

Detection of circulating antigens for <i>Taenia</i> spp. in pigs slaughtered for consumption in Nairobi and surroundings, Kenya

Akoko, J M

MacLeod, E

Thomas, L F

Alarcon, P

Kang'Ethe, E

Kivali, V

Muloi, D

Muinde, P

Murungi, M K

Gachoya, J M

Fèvre, E M

RVC Research Online

Abstract

Background & Methods: Taenia solium a zoonotic tapeworm, responsible for neurocysticercosis in humans is a major public health threat, being a leading cause of acquired epilepsy in endemic regions. Eastern and southern African nations have experienced a recent rapid growth in pig production, including small-scale, free-range systems, with an accompanying increased risk of T. solium transmission. Seven hundred blood samples were collected from randomly selected pigs presented for slaughter at one of the largest porcine abattoir supplying unprocessed pork to Nairobi city and its surroundings. The samples were tested using an antigen ELISA to determine the prevalence of infection with Taenia spp. 

Results: The prevalence, adjusted for diagnostic test characteristics, was estimated to be 4.4% (95% CI: 1.9-7.1) with no significant statistical difference by pig sex or age. Infection with Taenia spp. was detected in pigs from all regions of the country supplying pigs to this slaughterhouse. Official post-mortem inspection did not detect cysticercosis in the duration of the study. Therefore, all the carcasses entered the food chains of Nairobi (70%), or neighboring counties (30%).

Conclusions: Circulating antigens of Taenia spp. were detected in pigs slaughtered in one of the largest porcine slaughterhouses in Kenya, which receives pigs from several regions in the country. This is an indication that pigs entering the value chain are raised under poor husbandry conditions and that pork consumers in Nairobi and its surroundings may be exposed to the important zoonotic parasite. Whilst further research utilizing full carcass dissection is required to confirm T. solium positive cases, interventions to improve food-safety throughout the pork value chains in Kenya should be seriously considered

Akoko, J

Macleod, E

Thomas, Lian

Kang'ethe, E

Murungi, M

Gachoya, JM

Fevre, Eric

DataCat: The Research Data Catalogue (University of Liverpool)

Detection of circulating Antigens for Taenia spp. in pigs slaughtered for consumption in Nairobi and surroundings, Kenya

Edinburgh Research Explorer

Akoko, James

Thomas, LF

Murungi, Maurice

Gachoya, Julius

Background & methods Taenia solium a zoonotic tapeworm, responsible for neurocysticercosis in humans is a major public health threat, being a leading cause of acquired epilepsy in endemic regions. Eastern and southern African nations have experienced a recent rapid growth in pig production, including small-scale, free-range systems, with an accompanying increased risk of T. solium transmission. Seven hundred blood samples were collected from randomly selected pigs presented for slaughter at one of the largest porcine abattoir supplying unprocessed pork to Nairobi city and its surroundings. The samples were tested using an antigen ELISA to determine the prevalence of infection with Taenia spp. Results The prevalence, adjusted for diagnostic test characteristics, was estimated to be 4.4% (95% CI: 1.9–7.1) with no significant statistical difference by pig sex or age. Infection with Taenia spp. was detected in pigs from all regions of the country supplying pigs to this slaughterhouse. Official post-mortem inspection did not detect cysticercosis in the duration of the study. Therefore, all the carcasses entered the food chains of Nairobi (70%), or neighboring counties (30%). Conclusions Circulating antigens of Taenia spp. were detected in pigs slaughtered in one of the largest porcine slaughterhouses in Kenya, which receives pigs from several regions in the country. This is an indication that pigs entering the value chain are raised under poor husbandry conditions and that pork consumers in Nairobi and its surroundings may be exposed to the important zoonotic parasite. Whilst further research utilizing full carcass dissection is required to confirm T. solium positive cases, interventions to improve food-safety throughout the pork value chains in Kenya should be seriously considered

Detection of circulating Antigens for Taenia spp. in pigs slaughtered for consumption in Nairobi and surroundings, Kenya

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Directory of Open Access Journals

University of Liverpool Repository

RVC Research Online

DataCat: The Research Data Catalogue (University of Liverpool)

Edinburgh Research Explorer

University of Liverpool Repository

CGSpace