RP-Department of Zoological Sciences

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Browsing RP-Department of Zoological Sciences by Subject "Abattoir surveillance"

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    Emergence of Cysticercosis, a neglected meat-borne notifiable zoonosis in Thika sub county of Kiambu county, Kenya
    (International Scholars Journals Publishing Corporation, 2019) Nguhiu, P.N.; Kabuage, L.W.; Warutere, P.N.; Kabui, K.K.; Kanina, P.M.
    The tapeworm Taenia solium, transmitted between humans and pigs, affects millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa. The young form of the tape worm causes a tissue infection called cysticercosis and a specific effect called neurocysticercosis in humans affects the brain; and, is the most common cause of seizes - acquired epilepsy. In addition, infected pigs lead to considerable economic losses due to down grading or total condemnation of the carcass. Thika has been reported as the highest consumer of pork among Kenyan urban areas and a comprehensive survey of cysticercosis in the area had not been previously carried out. A study was done from May 2016 to June 2017 with the purpose to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with taeniosis and porcine cysticercosis in Thika Sub County. The specific objectives were to determine the prevalence and factors associated with Taenia solium taeniosis/ cysticercosis, prevalence of porcine cysticercosis in pig farms and seroprevalence of porcine cysticercosis in pigs slaughtered in abattoirs in Thika. Taeniosis was present among the community members with prevalence at 6.3 % while 13 cases of cysticercosis have been recorded in Thika Level 5 Hospital. The level of awareness among pig consumers and vendors on taeniosis/ cysticercosis was found to be low with fried pork being the most preferred method for pork preparation. Prevalence of porcine cysticercosis by lingual palpation was 1.81% among the farms surveyed and seroprevalence using antigen ELISA was1.83%. These results are significant in that they report on presence of porcine and human cysticercosis and therefore the need to control this important zoonosis in the area.
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    Seroprevalence of Porcine Cysticercosis and Associated Risk Factors in Pigs Slaughtered in Abattoirs in Thika, Kiambu County, Kenya
    (David Publishing, 2017) Nguhiu, Purity; Kamau, Lucy; Kelvin, Kinyua; Matonge, Paul
    Taenia solium is an important food-borne pathogen worldwide and is emerging as a serious public health risk in both rural and urban communities where pigs are raised and consumed. Adult tapeworms are found in the intestines of humans while the developmental larval forms occur in the muscles and organs constituting cysticercosis of pigs and humans. Cysticercosis has a worldwide distribution, mainly related to poor hygiene and sanitation and consumption of infected pork. Pigs get infected through consumption of food and contaminated with human faeces containg eggs. In recent years pork consumption has increased with the opening up of pork eating centres. Porcine cysticercosis has previously been reported in Kenya, however, there are scarce data on the occurrence of the disease, as well as on the risk factors for transmission, in key production and consumption areas including Thika. The purpose of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of porcine cysticercosis in slaughtered pigs and associated risk factors for occurrence of the disease in selected abattoirs in Thika. Systematic random sampling was used to select a total of 276 pigs. The source of the slaughter pigs was derived from the movement permits, the breed, sex and estimation of age was done at ante mortem examination. The slaughter and meat inspection processes were carried out by the slaughter house personnel and the investigators only observed and received the outcome of the inspection. Blood samples were collected from each identified pig at slaughter, processed and analyzed using purified Taenia solium antigen ELISA commercial kit. The results meat inspection showed that none of the pigs in this study had any visible cysts whereas 4.35% of the pigs were seropositive which poses public health risk.