Pig Management Practices And Their Contribution To Ocurrence Of Porcine Cysticercosis In Thika Municipality And Its Environs, Kenya

ABSTRACT

The pork tapeworm (Taenia solium) is an important parasite that causes disease in humans and pigs where humans host the adult worm in the small intestines and the larval stages are found in the muscles, brain and other tissues in humans and pigs (cysticercosis). Neurocysticercosisis (where the larva of Taenia solium is in the brain) is a major cause of epilepsy in humans. Humans can get the infection by consumption of infected pig meat while consumption of food and water contaminated with Taenia solium eggs can cause infection in both pig and human. Porcine cysticercosis causes loss to farmers through condemnation of carcasses during meat inspection and loss of market when pork eaters shy away due to fear of infection. The study was carried out to evaluate the Prevalence and risk factors in pig production management systems that can contribute to the occurrence of porcine cysticercosis in Thika municipality and its environs, Kenya in 2016. Cluster sampling method was used to randomly select farmers from four wards of Kamenu, Gatuanyaga, Township and Kimorori. Among the selected farmers, 81 pig farms were visited and structured questionnaires were administered to the pig farmers to collect data on management practices and awareness on porcine cysticercosis. A study sample of 1-5 pigs per farm was randomly selected based on the available number of pigs and criteria of selection. The study pigs were examined by lingual palpation for presence of cysts which appears as nodules on the ventral side of the tongue. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20 where means and percentages were calculated as well as logic regression to determine the relationship between prevalence of porcine cysticercosis and management practices. The farm and pig prevalence of cysticercosis was 6.2% and 1.8% respectively. Porcine cysticercosis was significantly associated with feed source: swill (P=0.001), neighbour’s leftovers (p=0.001), home mixed feeds (0.006), and the frequency of de-worming pigs (p=0.027). The main risk factor for porcine cysticercosis was the feeding of swill (P=0.001). Majority (55.6%) of the respondents were females, the pig stock sizes were ranging from 1 pig to 78 pigs and with an average of 11. Majority (97.5%) of pig farmers in the study area practiced zero grazing system. In order of preference, the farmers reported to feed their pigs on manufactured feeds (55.6%), home mixed feeds (28.4%), swill from garbage (12.3%), household leftovers or waste (2.5%) and neighbours leftovers (1.2%). The main (71.6) source of water for watering livestock was tap water. Other sources were wells and borehole, reported by 27.2% and 1.2% of the respondents, respectively. On animal health practices, 88.9% of the pig keepers de-wormed their pigs while 97.5% sought veterinary services. There were 69.1% of the respondents who reported that they usually buy replacement pigs. All the respondents kept pigs for commercial purposes. This study showed that cysticercosis was present in Thika with a low prevalence and the main risk factor for the disease was the practice of feeding pigs on swill. The results of this study shows that there is need to create awareness on the occurrence of the disease in the study area, to give advice on improved pig husbandry practices and especially avoid feeding of swill or cook before feeding it to pigs.