The prevalence and transmission risk factors of porcine crysticercosis in Eastern and Southern Provinces of Zambia
| dc.contributor.author | Sikasunge, Chummy Sikalizyo | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2012-09-19T10:12:51Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2012-09-19T10:12:51Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2012-09-19 | |
| dc.description.abstract | The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and the potential risk factors associated with T. solium (Ts) taeniasis/cysticercosis transmission and maintenance in humans and pigs in Southern and Eastern provinces of Zambia. Tongue examination of live pigs and assessment of the presence of circulating parasite antibodies by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (Ab-ELISA) and that of circulating parasite antigen (Ag-ELISA) in serum were used to detect T. solium infections in pigs. A questionnaire was administered in households whose pigs were examined in order to obtain information on pig husbandry practices and to study other associated risk factors to T. solium infections in man. A total of 1541 pigs were examined. Of these, 772 and 769 pigs were from Southern and Eastern provinces respectively. Of the total pigs examined 171 (11.1%) were positive after tongue examination. Pigs from Southern province had a significantly higher T. solium prevalence of 117 (15.2%); (p< 0.001) than those from Eastern province with a prevalence of 54 (7.0%) on tongue examination. Antibody-ELISA analysis gave a total prevalence of 37.2%. There were no differences in T. solium prevalence detected between pigs from Southern 287 (37.2%) and Eastern 287 (37.3%) provinces. The Ag-ELISA assay gave a total T. solium cysticercosis prevalence of 376 (24.4%). There was significant difference between Southern province with a prevalence of 234 (30.3%); (p < 0.001) and Eastern province with 142 (18.5%). The study further showed that the prevalence of T. solium on Ag-ELISA in young pigs was 27.3% while adult pigs had 22.8%. A total of 788 farmers were interviewed out of the 800 households visited. The noted risk factors associated with T. solium infections were varied and included; lack of pork inspection at slaughter (96.7%), consumption of pork with cysts (20.1%), selling of pork infected with T. solium cysticerci (18.3%), individuals belonging to households with pigs found positive for cysticercosis on Ag-ELISA (37.6%), free-range husbandry system (83.2%) and poor sanitation i.e. allowing pigs access to infected faeces because of absence of toilets (58.0%). However, analysis of the prevalence rates of porcine cysticercosis in pigs raised in households with or without a latrine yielded no statistical significance on Ag-ELISA (x^ = 1.76, p < 0.184). This study confirmed a high prevalence of T. solium porcine cysticercosis in the surveyed villages and thus suggests the presence of T. solium human carriers. The life cycle of T. solium is bound to be sustained by pigs having access to infected human faeces because lack of toilets and consumption of cysticercosis-infected pork by villagers. It is evident from this study that T. solium infection poses a high public health risk in the study areas. This baseline data on the status of porcine cysticercosis should give the impetus to conduct Taeniosis and cysticercosis prevalence study in humans in these areas. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://dspace.unza.zm/handle/123456789/1764 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.subject | Porcine -- Zambia | en_US |
| dc.subject | Bovine Cysticercosis -- Zambia | en_US |
| dc.subject | Cysticercosis -- Zambia | en_US |
| dc.title | The prevalence and transmission risk factors of porcine crysticercosis in Eastern and Southern Provinces of Zambia | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |