Abstract:
An epidemiological survey was conducted between November and December 2007 in
30 randomly selected villages and four slaughterslabs in Mbozi and Mbeya Rural
districts, southern Tanzania, to determine the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis.
Fifteen villages and three slaughterslabs were from Mbozi and fifteen villages and one
slaughterslab were from Mbeya Rural. A total of 600 live pigs (300 in each district) of
different sex and age categories were randomly selected from smallholder pig-keeping
households and subjected to lingual examination and Antigen-ELISA tests. Postmortem
examination was performed in pigs slaughtered in official slaughterslabs and local brew
clubs. Questionnaire survey and direct observations were used to investigate potential
factors related to transmission of T. solium. The overall prevalence of porcine
cysticercosis in Mbozi district was 11.7% (95% CI = 8.5-15.8%) and 32% (95% CI: 27-
37.5%) based on lingual examination and Antigen-ELISA, respectively. In Mbeya
Rural district, the prevalences were 6% (95% CI: 3.8-9.3%) and 30.7% (95% CI: 25.8-
36.1%), by lingual examination and Antigen-ELISA tests, respectively. The agreement
between the two tests was poor (κ < 40%). There were no significant differences in the
prevalence of porcine cysticercosis in different age and sex categories of pigs. None of
the 805 pigs slaughtered at official slaughterslabs was infected with cysticercosis based
on post-mortem inspection. However, of those slaughtered at local brew clubs, 8.2%
(n=437) in Mbozi district and 10.8% (n=74) in Mbeya Rural were positive for
cysticercosis. Potential risk factors for porcine cysticercosis in the districts included
poor pig management, poor sanitary practices, lack of knowledge on the transmission
of T. solium, and lack of meat inspection services. This study recommends educational
campaigns in the study communities on the epidemiology of the disease, and
subsequent revision of the current regulatory framework for pig trade and pork
inspection to safeguard public health and improve livelihoods.
