Risk factors and prevalence of Porcine cysticercosis in free range pigs of selected areas of South Africa

Abstract

Taenia solium, a pig tapeworm, is an important zoonotic parasite common in countries with low standards of personal hygiene and poor environmental sanitation and control measures. Man is the definitive host while pigs are the main source of infection to man. Free range pigs play an important role in the transmission of the disease because of their habit of ingesting human faeces. Free range pigs are abundant in some provinces of South Africa and are usually reared by poor communities living in environment with poor sanitation. In this study we tested serum samples collected from free range pigs in Gauteng, Limpopo, North-west, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa. The cysticercosis status was estimated using an ELISA kit (apDia, bvba, Belgium). The prevalence levels in these provinces were: 3.6, 6.3, 5.9, 16.6, 4.6, 0, 0, and 0% respectively, whereas, the overall prevalence was 5.2%. These levels indicate the existing zoonotic risk arising from rearing free range pigs and the need for public health interventions.