Retrospective Study of Cysticercus Bovis and the Associated Zoonotic Risk Factors in Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

Bovine cysticercosis is a common zoonosis whose epidemiology is estimated at 50 million cases of infestation worldwide with economic losses from condemned and downgraded carcasses in Kenya amounting to £1.0 million by 2003. A retrospective study was conducted in Kajiado County, Kenya from January 2013 to December 2015 to determine the prevalence of Cysticercus bovis in the County and the associated zoonotic factors. Data on cases of bovine cysticercosis was extracted from monthly meat inspection reports of the County Director Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries from January 2013 to December 2015 and entered in excel spreadsheets. One sub-location was picked per a sub-county and a total of 91 households were sampled for a questionnaire interview according to Bebe et al., 2000. Prevalence rates were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while the Chi-square was used to analyze the association of the zoonotic factors with the cases of bovine cysticercosis. The mean of bovine cysticercosis obtained from the retrospective study was 150.9 with a P-value of 0.000 which is less than the 0.05 significant levels. Zoonotic factors investigated showed a positive association with the prevalence of bovine cysticercosis e.g. availability of toilets, source of water and its treatment, backyard slaughters and meat inspection had a P value of 0.000. The study showed that bovine cysticercosis is prevalent in Kajiado County and there were factors exposing the residents to this zoonotic infection. Public awareness on spread and implication of this zoonosis is important and also emphasis on hygiene is of necessity.