Prevalence of Porcine Cysticercosis by Lingual Examination in Smallholder Pig Farms in Kiambu, Kenya

Abstract

Porcine cysticercosis is common in pigs worldwide and associated with free ranging production systems where animals have access to human faeces infected with Taenia solium. Its occurrence leads to economic loss to farmers at slaughter but more important is the public health concern where humans may get infection by consumption of infected pig meat. The larval stages develop in muscles and tissues in both pigs and humans. Diagnosis in live pigs is mainly by presence of palpable cysts on the tongue. A cross sectional survey was carried out in 81 smallholder farms in Thika sub-County, Kiambu County, Kenya.Visual inspection and lingual palpation was done to 276 pigs, where two pigs were examined in pig farms with less than 5 pigs while in farms with more than 5 pigs, at least 5 pigs were randomly picked for palpation. The results were recorded as presence or absence of palpable cysts. Farm and pig prevalence of cysticercosis in Thika was found to be 6.2% and 1.81% respectively an indication that cysticercosis is present in the area. Though the prevalence was low as compared to other parts in Kenya, this was first documentation of disease occurrence in this area.