Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Prevalence of extra-intestinal porcine helminth infections and assessment of sanitary conditions of pig slaughter slabs in Dar es Salaam city, Tanzania

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A study was carried out to establish the prevalence of extra-intestinal porcine helminth infections and to assess the pig slaughter slab sanitary conditions in Dar es Salaam city, Tanzania. A total of 24 privately owned pig slaughter slabs were assessed. All slaughter slabs were sub-standard; wrongly located, poorly designed and constructed and lacked most basic requirements for a slaughter house. Because of inadequate slaughtering, disposal and cleaning facilities, the slaughter slabs were under unhygienic condition with questionable safety, soundness and wholesomeness of the pork produced. Routine meat inspection procedures were used to detect extra-intestinal porcine helminth infections. Of the 731 examined pigs; 8.1%, 5.9% and 0.4% were infected with ascariosis, porcine cysticercosis and hydatidosis, respectively. It was noted that almost all slaughter pigs in Dar es Salaam originated from different regions. Based on the region of origin, the status of porcine cysticercosis was 8.2% for Dodoma (n = 98), 8.2% for Manyara (n = 260) and 6.9% for Mbeya (n = 116). This study disclosed the unhygienic sanitary condition prevailing in Dar es Salaam pig slaughter slabs and recommends that strategies should be devised to improve the situation. Porcine ascariosis and cysticercosis were widely prevalent and caused economic losses due to condemnations. Because of their zoonotic nature, the observed extra-intestinal porcine helminth infections in pig pose a public health risk among consumers. Thus, there is a need to introduce appropriate control measures of parasitic infections in pigs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akinro, A. O. Ologunagba, I.B. and Yahaya, O., 2009. Environmental implications of unhygienic operation of a city abattoir in Akure, Western Nigeria. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 4(9), 60–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ansari-Lari, M., 2005. A retrospective survey of hydatidosis in livestock in Shiraz, Iran, based on abattoir data during 1999–2004. Veterinary Parasitology, 133, 119–123.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Biu, A.A., Ahmed, M.I. and Mshelia, S.S., 2006. Economic assessment of losses due to parasitic diseases common at the Maiduguri abattoir, Nigeria. African Scientist, 7(3), 143–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boa, M. E., Bøgh, H. O., Kassuku, A. A. and Nansen, P., 1995. The prevalence of Taenia solium metacestodes in pigs in northern Tanzania. Journal of Helminthology, 69, 113–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boa, M. E., Mahundi, E. A., Kassuku, A. A., Willingham III, A. L. and Kyvsgaard, N. C., 2006. Epidemiological survey of swine cysticercosis using ante-mortem and post-mortem examination tests in the southern highlands of Tanzania. Veterinary Parasitology, 139(1), 249–255.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Craig, P. S., Rogan, M. T., and Campos-Ponce M., 2003. Echinococcosis: disease, detection and transmission. Parasitology, 127, S5–S20.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eckert, J. and Deplazes, P., 2004. Biological, epidemiological, and clinical aspects of echinococcosis, a zoonosis of increasing concern. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 17(1), 107–135.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ernest, E., 2004. Studies on the epidemiology of echinococcosis/hydatidosis in Ngorongoro district, Arusha region, Tanzania. (Unpublished MSc thesis, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania).

  • Ernest, E., Nonga, H.E., Kynsieri, N. and Cleaveland, S., 2009. A retrospective survey of human hydatidosis based on hospital records during a period from 1990–2003 in Ngorongoro, Tanzania. Zoonosis and Public Health, doi:10.1111/j.1863-2378.2009.01297.x.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flisser, A., Sarti, E., Lightowlers, M., Schantz, P., 2003. Neurocysticercosis: regional status, epidemiology, impact and control measures in the Americas. Acta Tropica, 87, 43–51.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gracey, J.F., Collins, D.S., Huey, R.J., 1999. Meat Hygiene, 10th ed. W.B. Saunders Company LTD, pp. 261–287.

  • Herenda, D., Chambers, P.G., Ettriqui, A., Seneviratna, P and da Silva, T.J.P., 2009. Manual on meat inspection for developing countries. FAO Animal Production and Health Paper 119. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, Italy.

  • Kebede, N., Mitiku, A and Tilahun, G., 2008. Hydatidosis of slaughtered animals in Bahir Dar Abattoir, Northwestern Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 10.1007/s11250-008-9152-3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kisakye, J.J.M. and Masaba, S.C., 2002. Cysticercus cellulosae in pigs slaughtered in and around Kampala city. Uganda Journal of Agricultural Science, 7, 23–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macpherson, C.N.L., Kachani, M., Lyagoubi, M., Berada, M., Bouslikhane, M., Shepherd, M., Fields, P.F., and El Hasnaoui, E., 2004. Cystic echinococcosis in the Berber of the Mid Atlas Mountains, Morocco: New insights into the natural history of cystic hydatid disease in humans. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 98, 481–490.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, MAFS, 2002. Basic Data-Agriculture Sector 1994/95–2000/2001. Statistics Unit, MAFS, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, August 2002, 72 pp.

  • National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, 2002. [http://www.nbs.go.tz].

  • Ndirangu, P.N., Njeruh, F.M., Gathura, P.B. and Kyule, M.N. 2004. The Prevalence of Hydatidosis in Slaughtered Livestock in Kenya. The Kenya Veterinarian, 27, 73–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nejsum, P., Parker, E. D. Jr., Frydenberg, J., Roepstorff, A., Boes, J., Haque, R., Astrop, I. and Sørensen U. B. S., 2005. Ascaris is a zoonosis in Denmark. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 43(3), 1142–1148.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nejsum, P., Grondahl, C. and Murrell, K. D., 2006. Molecular evidence for the infection of zoo chimpanzees by pig Ascaris. Veterinary Parasitology, 139(1), 203–210.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ngowi, H. A., Kassuku, A. A., Maeda, G. E. M., Boa, M. E., and Willingham III, A. L., 2004. A slaughter slab survey for extra-intestinal porcine helminth infection in northern Tanzania. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 36, 335–340.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Njoroge, E.M., Mbithi, P.M., Gathuma, J.M., Wachira, T.M., Magambo, J.K. and Zeyhle, E., 2000. Application of ultrasonography in prevalence studies of hydatid cysts in goats in north western Turkana, Kenya and Toposaland, Southern Sudan. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 67, 251–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nonga, H.E. and Karimuribo, E.D., 2009. A retrospective survey of hydatidosis in livestock in Arusha, Tanzania, based on abattoir data during 2005–2007. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 41, 1253–1257.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Phiri, I.K., Dorny, P., Gabriel, S., Willingham, A.L, Speybroeck, N. and Vercruysse, J., 2002. The prevalence of porcine cysticercosis in Eastern and Southern provinces of Zambia. Veterinary Parasitology, 108, 31–39.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Phiri, I. K., Ngowi, H., Afonso, S., Matenga, E., Boa, M., Mukaratirwa, S., Githigia, S., Saimo, M., Sikasunge, C., Maingi, N., Lubega, G. W., Kassuku, A., Michael, L., Siziya, S., Krecek, R. C., Noormahomed, E., Vilhena, M., Dorny, P. and Willingham III, A. L., 2003. The emergence of Taenia solium cysticercosis in Eastern and Southern Africa as a serious agricultural problem and public health risk. Acta Tropica, 87, 13–21.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sikasunge, C. S., Phiri, I. K., Phiri, A. M., Siziya, S., Dorny, P. and Willingham III, A. L., 2007. Risk factors associated with porcine cysticercosis in selected districts of Eastern and Southern provinces of Zambia. Veterinary Parasitology, 143(1), 59–66.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sikasunge, C. S., Phiri, I. K., Phiri, A. M., Siziya, S., Dorny, P. and Willingham III, A. L., 2008. Prevalence of Taenia solium porcine cysticercosis in the Eastern, Southern and Western provinces of Zambia. Veterinary Journal, 176(2), 240–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tamboura, H. H., Banga-Mboko, H., Maes, D., Youssao, I., Traore, A., Bayala, B., Dembele, M. A., 2006. Prevalence of common gastrointestinal nematode parasites in scavenging pigs of different ages and sexes in Eastern Centre Province, Burkina Faso. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 73(1), 53–60.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the Dar es Salaam city meat inspectors: Mr. C. Myombela, Mr. D. Mbwambo, Mr. G. Kizokwa, J. Bayona and Mrs H. Bhinda, for their tireless support and cooperation during data collection. Prof. A. A. Kassuku of Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Sokoine University of Agriculture is thanked for his scientific and technical advice. Owners of pig slaughter slabs are thanked for their cooperation during this study. This work was funded by the Higher Student Loan Body of Tanzania.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3021, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania

    Ernatus M. Mkupasi, Helena A. Ngowi & Hezron Emmanuel Nonga

Authors
  1. Ernatus M. Mkupasi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Helena A. Ngowi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hezron Emmanuel Nonga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hezron Emmanuel Nonga.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mkupasi, E.M., Ngowi, H.A. & Nonga, H.E. Prevalence of extra-intestinal porcine helminth infections and assessment of sanitary conditions of pig slaughter slabs in Dar es Salaam city, Tanzania. Trop Anim Health Prod 43, 417–423 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-010-9708-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-010-9708-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation