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OJVRTM

Online Journal of Veterinary Research©

 Volume 7:1-9, 2003. Redacted 2018.


Analysis of post-mortem diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis in Kenyan cattle

 

Wanzala W a, Onyango-Abuje JAb, Kang'ethe EKc, Zessin KHd, Kyule NMc,d, Baumann MPOd, Ochanda Ha, Harrison LJSe

 

aDivision of Parasitology and Immunology,  Department of Zoology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya bNational Veterinary Research Centre, Muguga, P.O. Box 32, Kikuyu, Kenya cDepartment of Public Health, Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Nairobi, P.O.  Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya dDepartment of International Animal Health, Freie University Berlin, FB Veterinärmedizin, Luisenstraße 56, D- 10117 Berlin, Germany.eCentre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Roslin  Midlothian, EH25  9RG, Scotland, U.K. Address for correspondence:  Wanzala Wycliffe, Division of Parasitology and Immunology,  Department of Zoology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya. TeleFax: 254-02-445763, e-mail:wwanzala@hotmail.com

 

ABSTRACT

 

Wanzala W, Onyango-Abuje JA, Kang'ethe EK, Zessin KH, Kyule NM, Baumann MPO, Ochanda H, Harrison LJS., Analysis of post-mortem diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis in Kenyan cattle, Onl J Vet Res., 7:1-9, 2003. A total of 55 cattle divided into two groups of  experimentally (n =30) and naturally (n = 25) infected animals were  used to study the reliability of meat inspection methods in Kenya. Total dissection method was used as a gold standard to indicate the absence or presence of bovine cysticercosis infection in cattle. The level of agreement between the two methods was, on average, lower in naturally infected animals than in artificially infected calves. This was because in natural infections, there were more light infections than in experimental infections and these could not be detected by meat inspection method. The results further confirm that in spite of the time and effort taken by meat inspectors in looking for cysticerci at predilection sites, this method is very insensitive. It was therefore recommended that more parts of the carcass not currently inspected according to the Kenya Meat Control Act – 1977, for bovine cysticercosis such as hind legs, ribs, lungs and liver, need to be considered as possible and equally important predilection sites and larger areas of these predilection sites should be examined. However, other better sensitive ante-mortem diagnostic methods should be developed to assist in the integrated management of the infection.

 

KEY WORDS: Meat inspection; Post-mortem diagnosis; Bovine cysticercosis; Kenyan cattle.


 

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