PREVALENCE OF BOVINE AND BUBALINE CYSTICERCOSIS IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN.

Byline: M. Saeed, A. Z. Durrani, M. A. Khan, A. Maqbool, M. Avais, M. Ijaz, I. Ahmad, M. Younus, K. Mehmood, M. Siddiqa and S. Naz

ABSTRACT

Cysticercosis is zoonotic disease infecting cattle and buffaloes having worldwide distribution. Prevalence of cysticercosis is more in underdeveloped countries, and people working in abattoirs are at greater risk to contract infection during handling of slaughtered carcass. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of cysticercosis in cattle and buffaloes in province of Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 2400 animals (n=800 animals from each of 3 zones of Punjab where n=400 cattle; n=400 buffaloes) were randomly selected and examined through postmortem at public and private abattoirs. The prevalence of cysticercosisin cattle and buffaloes was 2.92% and 3.17%, respectively. The highest prevalence of cysticercosiswas observed in cattle (3.75%) and buffaloes (3.5%) of North Punjab followed by those of South Punjab and Central Punjab.

A higher prevalence of cysticercosis was observed in cattle (4.63%) and buffaloes (5%) at public sector abattoirs than at private sector abattoirs, where prevalence of cysticercosiswas 1.52% and 1.67% in cattle and buffaloes, respectively. The prevalence of cysticercosiswas higher in female cattle (3.75%) and female buffaloes (3.83%) than in male animals, which was 2.53% in male cattle and 2.80% in male buffaloes. The frequency analysis showed non-significant difference of prevalence in both male and female. In liver, the highest prevalence was observed both in cattle (31.4%) and buffalo (31.6%). In cattle, other organs like heart, lungs, tongue and esophagus showed prevalence of 22.9, 2.9, 11.4 and 8.6%, respectively while in buffaloes, heart and tongue showed 23.7% prevalence and lungs were affected in 2.6% animals with cysticercosis. Statistically, the difference in prevalence of cysticercosiscysts in different organs of cattle and buffaloes was significantly different (Pless than 0.05).

In conclusion, cysticercosis is prevalent in cattle and buffaloes with variable infection in different zones of Punjab province.

Key words: prevalence, bovine cysticercosis, buffaloes, heart, tongue, Punjab

INTRODUCTION

Cysticercosis is a disease of cattle and buffaloes which is of zoonotic importance particularly for abattoir workers. The disease is prevalent all over the world with variations in distribution (Minozzo et al., 2002; Doyle et al., 1997). Poor hygiene, use of semicookedmeat, sun-cured meat are risk factor for transmission of disease from animals to humans (Minozzo et al., 2002). The disease is more common in underdeveloped countries compared to developed world (Frolova, 1982; Gracey and Collins, 1992; Symth, 1994; Cabaret et al. 2002).In developing countries, inappropriate education about health and non-availability of taenicides are the main causes for the spread of the infection (Pawlowski, 1996). The variations in epidemiological patterns of cysticercosis throughout these countries are a reflection of the numbers and distribution of human and cattle populations (Harrison et al.1996).

In East African countries 30 to 80% prevalence has been documented (Tembo, 2001).The prevalence of bovine cysticercosisin many African countries has been studied extensively over the past few decades. Prevalence of bovine cysticercosisin Zambia was 6.1% (Dorny, 2002), Namibia had 6.2% in communal and 2.3% in commercial cattle (Kumba et al. 2001), Ethiopia 3.2% (Tembo, 2001), Egypt 0.23% in native cattle and 7.25% in imported cattle (Haridy et al., 1999), Kenya 33.02% (Onyango-Abuje et al., 1996), Nigeria 10.2%, Chad 6.67% and in Zaire 22.3% (Frolova, 1982).

In Pakistan, high prevalence of cysticercosis is due to open lavatory practices and unhygienic eating habits like under-cooked beefsteak, burgers, tikka, kababs, and other fast foods at local food streets. Another major factor is failure to observe precautionary measures during slaughtering in abattoirs. There is no proper meat inspection in abattoirs. Illegal slaughtering is common. Due to health-oriented nature, this problem must be addressed at national level with same pace as international efforts. According to World Health Organization data, nearly two decades ago 50 million cases of this infestation occurred in the world and death toll was 50,000 annually (WHO, 1996). This paper describes prevalence of bovine cysticercosis in cattle and buffaloes in Punjab province, Pakistan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective study was conducted from November; 2012 to October 2013 to find out the prevalence of cysticercosis in cattle and buffaloes at different HACCP certified public and private abattoirs in Punjab, Pakistan.The province of Punjab was divided into 3 zones viz. North zone (includes Attock, Rawalpindi, Jehlum, Mianwali, Khushab etc.), South zone (includes Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Bhakkar, Rajanpur, Vehari etc.) and Central zone (includes, Sahiwal, Okara, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, etc.). These cattle and buffaloes procured to abattoirs from live animal markets and household farmers throughout these3 zones of Punjab province were included in this study. A total of 2400 animals slaughtered at different abattoirs were randomly selected and inspected for the presence of cysticercosis. Sample size distribution included 800 animals (n=400 cattle; n=400 buffaloes) from each of the 3 zones viz. North, South and Central zones.

Data on each animal were recorded in a "data capture form" wherein entries included species, sex, age, breed, zone, organs infested, etc.

Each animal included in this study was subjected to an ante-mortem inspection. During this inspection, body temperature, respiration rate, heart rate, apparent anomalies, blemishes, other clinical abnormalities and body condition were recorded very carefully as per routine criteria. After ante-mortem inspection, cattle and buffaloes were slaughtered; postmortem examination followed immediately in the same facility. Postmortems were performed according to standard inspection procedures for cysticercosis (Ostertag, 1902). The animals were inspected for the presence of cysts of bovine cysticercosis. The prevalence of bovine cysticercosis in cattle and buffaloes was calculated using formula described by Thrusfield (2005).

Statistical Analysis: The data on prevalence were analyzed by using chi-square test and odd ratio (OR) were calculated for individual risk factors. Statistical analysis was performed on statistical software package"SPSS13.00".The probability level of Pless than 0.05 was considered as statistically significantly different.

RESULTS

The prevalence of bovine cysticercosisin cattle and buffaloes is given in table 1 and table 2. The overall prevalence of bovine cysticercosisin cattle and buffaloes was 2.92 and 3.17 percent, respectively. Data on zone-wise prevalence of bovine cysticercosisin cattle and buffaloes showed the highest prevalence of bovine cysticercosiswas in cattle (3.75%) and buffaloes (3.5%) of North Punjab followed by those of South Punjab and Central Punjab.

Data on abattoir-wise prevalence of bovine cysticercosisin cattle and buffaloes showed higher prevalence of bovine cysticercosisin cattle (4.63%) and buffaloes (5%) at public sector abattoirs than at private sector abattoirs, where prevalence of bovine cysticercosiswas 1.52% and 1.67% in cattle and buffaloes, respectively. Data regarding sex-wise prevalence of bovine cysticercosisin cattle and buffaloes showed that prevalence of bovine cysticercosiswas higher in female cattle (3.75%) and female buffaloes (3.84%) than in male animals which was 2.54% in male cattle while 2.81% in male buffaloes (Table 1 and 2).

Breed-wise data for prevalence of bovine cysticercosisin cattle and buffaloes indicated the highest prevalence of bovine cysticercosis in Cholistani cattle (3.15%) and Nili-Ravi buffaloes (3.96%) while prevalence of bovine cysticercosiswas 3.05, 2.94, 2.78 and 2.27 percent in Sahiwal, Dhani, Lohani and crossbred cattle, respectively. No positive case was found in Dajal cattle and Kundi buffalo. When compared statistically, a non-significant difference (P>0.05) in prevalence of bovine cysticercosisin different cattle breeds was observed. Age-wise prevalence of bovine cysticercosisin cattle and buffaloes showed that animal of 3 years and above age group were more affected with bovine cysticercosis. Prevalence was 7.69 and 8.84 percent in cattle and buffalos of 3-5 years old, respectively. Younger animals with less than one year age had the lowest prevalence (0.65 % for cattle and 0.97% for buffaloes).

In age group of 1 to 3 years prevalence was 2.06% in cattle while it was 1.90% in buffaloes. The prevalence of bovine cysticercosiswas significantly different (Pless than 0.05) among different age groups of cattle and buffaloes (Table 1 and 2).

Data on body condition-wise prevalence of bovine cysticercosis indicated highest prevalence of bovine cysticercosis in weak cattle (3.26%) and weak buffaloes (8.84%) than good conditioned and medium body conditioned animals, which were 2.79% in good body condition cattle while 2.93% in medium body condition cattle. In buffaloes good body conditioned animals showed 3.04% prevalence while medium conditioned animals showed 3.28% prevalence. Statistically, a non-significant difference (P>0.05) was observed in prevalence of bovine cysticercosis in cattle and buffaloes having different body condition (Table 1 and 2).

Tissue-wise prevalence of bovine cysticercosisin cattle and buffaloes is shown in Table 3 and Plate 1 to Plate 8. In liver, the highest prevalence was observed both in cattle and buffalo (31.4 and 31.6 percent, respectively). In cattle, other organs like heart, lungs, tongue and esophagus showed prevalence of 22.9, 2.9, 11.4 and 8.6%, respectively. While in buffaloes heart and tongue showed 23.7% prevalence and lungs were 2.6% affected with bovine cysticercosis. Statistically, the difference in prevalence of bovine cysticercosiscysts in different organs of cattle and buffaloes was significant (Pless than 0.05).

Table 1. Prevalence of cysticercosisin cattle in three zones of Punjab, Pakistan.

###Positive

Parameters###No. examined###95% CL###Odd Ratio/P-value

###N###%

Zone/Area wise

South Punjab###400###11###2.75###1.45-4.73

###Mantel-Haenszel Chi-sq

Central Punjab###400###9###2.25###1.10-4.09

###Pless than 0.439

North Punjab###400###15###3.75###2.19-5.97

Abattoir-wise

Public sector abattoir###540###25###4.63###3.09-6.66###OR=3.16 [reciprocal =

Private sector abattoir###660###10###1.52###0.77-2.68###0.32]

Sex-wise

Male###827###21###2.54###1.62-3.79###OR=0.67 [reciprocal =

Female###373###14###3.75###2.15-6.07###1.50]

Breed-wise

Sahiwal###360###11###3.05###1.62-5.25

Cholistani###444###14###3.15###1.81-5.11

Dhani###204###6###2.94###1.20-6.02

###Pless than 0.960

Lohani###36###1###2.78###0.14-12.95

Cross bred###132###3###2.27###0.58-6.06

Dajal###24###0###0###0.00-11.73

Age-wise

6 Month 1 Year###310###2###0.65###0.11-2.12

1-3 Year###630###13###2.06###1.15-3.42###Pless than 0.001

3-5 year and above###260###20###7.69###4.90-11.43

Body condition-wise

Good###610###17###2.79###1.69-4.34

Medium###375###11###2.93###1.55-5.04###Pless than 0.940

Weak###215###7###3.26###1.43-6.33

Overall

Total###1200###35###2.92###2.07-3.99

Table 2. Prevalence of cysticercosis in buffaloes in three zones of Punjab, Pakistan.

###Positive

Parameters###No. examined###95% CL###Odd Ratio/P-value

###N###%

Zone/Area wise

South Punjab###400###13###3.25###1.82-5.36

###Mantel-Haenszel Chi-sq

Central Punjab###400###11###2.75###1.45-4.73

###Pless than 0.827

North Punjab###400###14###3.50###2.01-5.67

Abattoir-wise

Public sector abattoir###540###27###5.00###3.39-7.09###OR=3.11 [reciprocal =

Private sector abattoir###660###11###1.67###0.88-2.88###0.32]

Sex-wise

Male###783###22###2.81###1.81-4.15###OR=0.72 [reciprocal =

Female###417###16###3.84###2.29-6.03###1.38]

Breed-wise

Nili Ravi###960###38###3.96###2.86-5.34###OR=20.07 [reciprocal =

Kundi###240###0###0###0.00-1.24###0.05]

Age-wise

6 Month 1 Year###310###3###0.97###0.25-2.61

1-3 Year###630###12###1.90###1.04-3.22###Pless than 0.001

3-5 year and above###260###23###8.84###5.83-12.78

Body condition-wise

Good###625###19###3.04###1.89-4.62

Medium###365###12###3.28###1.79-5.52###Pless than 0.966

Weak###210###7###3.30###1.47-6.48

Overall

Total###1200###38###3.17###2.28-4.28

Table 3. Tissue wise prevalence ofcysticercosis in cattle and buffaloes in Punjab, Pakistan.

###Cattle###Buffaloes

###Tissue

###No. Positive###Prevalence (%)###No. Positive###Prevalence (%)

Liver###11###31.4**###12###31.6**

Heart###8###22.9**###9###23.7**

Lungs###1###2.9**###1###2.6**

Tongue###4###11.4**###9###23.7**

Esophagus###3###8.6**###2###5.3**

Skeletal Muscles###3###8.6**###2###5.3**

Masseter Muscles###3###8.6**###1###2.6**

Multiple tissues###2###5.7**###2###5.3**

DISCUSSION

Cysticercosis is an important worldwide food borne parasitic disease and has public health implications. Human is the final host of Taeniasaginata while larval stage of this parasite causes muscles infestation in cattle and buffaloes which is commonly known as cysticercosis (Minozzo et al. 2002; Hancock et al. 1989). On the other hand, taenia infestation in human is named as taeniasis which is caused by adult stage of Taeniasaginata (Hancock et al. 1989). The occurrence of cysticercosisis more common in developing countries due to poor hygiene, and people habitually consume sun-cured, semi-cooked or un-cooked beef (Florova, 1982; Symth, 1994). The disease is also a problem in developed countries wherein large "rare" (semi-cooked) beefsteak is consumed. It is worth noting that tape worm/ parasite eggs have been recognized to be resistant to all stages of sewage treatment.

Moreover, it is also important that even the high levels of meat inspection in abattoirs of even technologically developed countries have not succeeded in eliminating this parasite (Florova, 1982; Symth, 1994).

In current study, out of 2400 animals examined at different abattoirs, overall 73(3.04%) cattle and buffaloes tested positive through postmortem inspection procedure. Previous reports on bovine cysticercosis indicated low infection rates as described by Haridy et al. (1999) 0.23, Rodriguez-Hidalgo et al. (2003) 0.37% and Abdoet al. (2009) 1.65% which is not congruent with the results of present study. Likewise, the prevalence of cysticercosisreportedin current study is lower than those recorded by Oryan et al. (1995) as 7.7%, and Kandil et al. (2012) as 4.4%. These differences in the reported prevalence rates are predictable due to various reasons like climatic dissimilarity among the localities, management of animals, number of collected samples, in addition to control measures and elimination programs in such countries. In current study, the prevalence of cysticercosis was higher in public abattoirs than in private abattoirs.

This difference in prevalence could be due to animal selection procedures for slaughter. The private sector abattoirs usually have developed strict SOPs regarding animal selection and slaughtering, which are not usually followed by public sector abattoirs. Prevalence of cysticercosis was higher in female animals as compared to males. Furthermore, this study revealed that prevalence of cysticercosis was higher in North Punjab compared to South Punjab, while the Central Punjab had the lowest prevalence. This difference could be attributed to life style of the people and tradition of keeping animals (animals are fed on pastures) and open field defecation.

Age of the animal was also determined as risk factor for cysticercosis. Prevalence of bovine cysticercosis was higher in 3-5 years age group of cattle and buffaloes than in 1-3 years age group and 6 month-1year old animals. Research work of other researchers also supported the findings of this study in this regard. The proportion of carcasses found to be infected with cysts was significantly different for species (cattle 2.1%; buffalo 4.7%), gender (higher in females than males) and age (higher in animals >2.5 years of age) (Nauman et al. 2013). In detail, the percentages were in cattle and buffaloes 2.6% and 6.0% for females vs. 1.9% and 4.1% for males, and 3.8% and 7.4% for animals >2.5 years of age vs. 1.4% and 2.8% for animals less than 2.5 years of age (Nauman et al. 2013).

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Article Details

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Publication:	Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
Geographic Code:	9PAKI
Date:	Apr 30, 2016
Words:	3550
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Topics:	Beef cattle Cysticercosis Prevalence studies (Epidemiology)