Prevalence of cysticercosis due to cystic echinococcosis and taenia hydatigena in small ruminants slaughtered at kampala city abattoir

Abstract

To ascertain the prevalence of Cysticercus tenuicollis (CT) and cystic echinococcosis (CE) in sheep and goats, a survey was conducted at Kampala city abattoir. The study aimed at determining the occurrence of the two infections, organs affected and economic losses attributed to condemnation of organs due to CE infection. During this study, three hundred forty three animals were examined and this included eighty goats and two hundred sixty three sheep. Of the 343 animals examined 139 (40.5%) were found to be positive with infection with 119 (34.7%) being infected with cysticercus tenuicollis and 20 (5.8%) with cystic echinococcosis. Out of 263 sheep examined, 15(5.7%) and 88(33.5%) were found to be positive with CE and CT respectively whereas out of the 80 goats examined 5 (6.3%) and 31 (38.8%) were positive for CE and CT respectively. Factors that influenced the occurrence of the infections included age, sex, body condition score and district of origin of the animals. Age and sex were not a significant occurrence factors however, body condition score and district of origin of the animals greatly affected the occurrence of the two infections i.e. sheep of body condition score 2 (poor) were found to be more infected. Cysticercus tenuicollis was found mainly in the mesentery (23.3%) while hydatid cysts were more predominant in the liver (5.0%) than any other visceral organ. The annual economic losses due to organ condemnation as a result of cystic echinococcosis infection were found to be UGX Shs106, 129 only. Thus appropriate strategies are need to be put in place to control and prevent cystic echinococcosis and cysticercus tenuicollis so as to minimize their prevalence their related production losses in the livestock industry.