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Risk factors associated with taeniosis-cysticercosis in rural farming communities in Gauteng Province, South Africa

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine which of the livestock management and human practices known to be risk factors associated with taeniosis-cysticercosis occur in Gauteng Province. A questionnaire survey was conducted in two regions of Gauteng Province, Germiston and Pretoria. Results revealed that almost 20% of the interviewed farmers do not have toilets, most of them let their animals roam freely during the day for grazing and scavenging, and 47% use streams as the water source for their animals. This may create an infection opportunity through ingestion of Taenia-contaminated herbage or water. Furthermore, 26% mentioned that their animals might have access to human excreta. More than 70% of farmers in the province slaughter cattle and pigs for their own consumption without inspecting meat for cysticercosis. Only a few of the interviewed farmers in both regions were aware of the taeniosis-cysticercosis complex. Backyard slaughtering, consumption of uninspected meat by the public, poor livestock management, and limited sanitation in rural communities of Gauteng Province are identified as risk factors associated with the occurrence of Taenia saginata and Taenia solium infections in the province. Taenia saginata and T. solium are considered to have a global distribution; therefore, these risk factors may be applicable globally, not just in Gauteng Province. Programs on public awareness with regard to transmission and prevention of Taenia infections as well as more detailed studies on risk factors of taeniosis-cysticercosis are recommended.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the Animal Health Technicians from Gauteng Veterinary Services for coordinating the research activities and the rural farming communities in Gauteng Province for their cooperation. Daniel Chipana and Jabulani Magagula are also acknowledged for technical assistance in the field and Liesl Morey (ARC-Biometry) for statistical analysis.

Funding

This study received financial assistance from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors Programme, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research - Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa

    A. M. Tsotetsi-Khambule & S. Njiro

  2. Veterinary Services, Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    T. C. Katsande

  3. Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Science, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

    L. J. S Harrison

Authors
  1. A. M. Tsotetsi-Khambule
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  2. S. Njiro
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  3. T. C. Katsande
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  4. L. J. S Harrison
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. M. Tsotetsi-Khambule.

Ethics declarations

The study was approved by both the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Animal Ethics Committee and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries as part of a bigger project. Furthermore, all personal information was treated with confidentiality.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Tsotetsi-Khambule, A.M., Njiro, S., Katsande, T.C. et al. Risk factors associated with taeniosis-cysticercosis in rural farming communities in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Trop Anim Health Prod 50, 1951–1955 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-018-1627-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-018-1627-2

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