Porcine cysticercosis in pigs slaughtered in Jos Municipal Abattoir and Lantang North Local Government Area, Market Slaughter Slab, Plateau State, Nigeria

Porcine cysticercosis remains a major public health problem in developing and some developed countries. A cross-sectional abattoir and slaughter slab based study design was carried out to determine the prevalence of cysticerci of Taenia solium in slaughtered pigs. A total of 341 pig carcasses at slaughter comprising of 150 from Jos Municipal Abattoir and 191 from Langtang North market slaughter slab were examined using palpation and incision technique of routine meat inspection. Of the 341 slaughtered pigs examined, 26 were infected giving an overall prevalence of 7.6%. The study based on location revealed that the prevalence was higher 21/191(11.0%) in Langtang North Local Government Area than in Jos 5/150(3.3%) (RR=0.3032; P=0.006; 95 % CI= 0.1170 -0.7853). Though not statistically significant, the study showed that the prevalence was higher (9.2%) in females than males (6.5%) (RR=0.7136; 95% CI=0.3411-1.493; df=1; P=0.4110). The carcasses harbored a total number of 165 cysts which were identified and removed from infected animals. Out of this number, the shoulder muscle harbored the highest proportion 57(34.5%), followed by the masseters 49(29.7%), the tongue 36(21.2%) and the heart 23(13.5%). All cyst examined were immature and viable. This study has confirmed the presence of Cysticercus cellulosae in pigs slaughtered for human consumption in the regions of Plateau State, Nigeria posing public health threat in the study area