Prevalence of bovine cysticercosis and age relationship at post-mortem in Nyagatare Slaughterhouse

Abstract

Bovine cysticercosis caused by the larval stage of the human tapeworm Taenia saginata is a zoonotic disease of great 
public health significance especially in developing countries. The present study was conducted on 291 slaughtered 
cattle at Nyagatare slaughterhouse in Eastern Rwanda between December 2013 and April 2014 to determine 
prevalence of bovine cysticercosis and its associated risk factors. Nine out of the 291 meat carcasses examined at 
postmortem were found to be infected with the parasite (3%). The infestation rate was higher in adult cattle than 
young cattle, where the highest prevalence (66.7%) was detected in older cattle 5 years and above followed by the 
carcasses of middle aged cattle of 3-5 years. The infestation was lowest in carcasses of cattle of young age (2-3 
years). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between breeds of slaughtered cattle, where out of 9 infected 
animals, 5 were from local breed and 4 were from crosses breed. On the other hand, the infestation rate was higher in 
female than male carcasses, but there is no significant variation was observed between sexes of cattle (p> 0.05). The 
infestation was mainly found in the heart muscles (35%, n=9), followed by masseter muscles (29.5%, n=9), tongue 
muscles (29.5%, n=9) and diaphragm muscles (6%, n=9). However, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the 
distribution rates of the cysticerci in the various organs of the cattle slaughtered at the abattoir.