Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2019 Feb 7:4:e00093.
doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2019.e00093. eCollection 2019 Feb.

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

James M Akoko  1   2   3 , Ewan MacLeod  2 , Lian F Thomas  1   4 , Pablo Alarcon  5 , Erastus Kang'ethe  6 , Velma Kivali  1 , Dishon Muloi  1   7   8 , Patrick Muinde  1   5 , Maurice K Murungi  1   5 , Julius M Gachoya  9 , Eric M Fèvre  1   4
Affiliations

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

James M Akoko et al. Parasite Epidemiol Control. .

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.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Food safety; Kenya; Porcine cysticercosis; Taenia spp.; Value chain.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Braae U.C. Taenia hydatigena cysticercosis in slaughtered pigs, goats, and sheep in Tanzania. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 2015;47(8):1523–1530. - PubMed
    1. Braae U.C. Feedstuff and poor latrines may put pigs at risk of cysticercosis—a case-control study. Vet. Parasitol. 2015;214(1):187–191. - PubMed
    1. Carabin H., Winkler A.S., Dorny P. Taenia solium cysticercosis and taeniosis: achievements from the past 10 years and the way forward. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 2017;11(4) - PMC - PubMed
    1. Carter N. Average daily gain of local pigs on rural and peri-urban smallholder farms in two districts of Western Kenya. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 2013;45(7):1533–1538. - PubMed
    1. Cochran W.G. 3rd ed. Wiley New York; 1977. Sampling Techniques.

LinkOut - more resources