Prevalence of Taenia and Toxoplasma in Pigs in Burundi
Author Information
Author(s): Minani Salvator, Spiessens Emma, Labarrière Alyssa, Niyokwizera Pascal, Gasogo Anastasie, Ntirandekura Jean-Bosco, Trevisan Chiara, Gabriël Sarah
Primary Institution: Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Burundi
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of Taenia spp. and Toxoplasma gondii infections in pigs in Burundi?
Conclusion
The study found that T. solium and T. gondii parasites are endemic in Burundi, posing public health risks.
Supporting Evidence
- 14 pigs (2.4%) were positive for T. solium cysticercosis by meat inspection.
- 67 pigs (11.6%) were positive by partial carcass dissection.
- 66 samples were confirmed to be T. solium infections after molecular analysis.
- Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in pigs was 17.7%.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many pigs in Burundi have certain parasites that can make people sick. They found a lot of pigs are infected.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study was conducted using meat inspection, partial carcass dissection, and molecular confirmation.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from the use of tongue palpation before slaughter, leading to infected pigs being excluded from inspection.
Limitations
The study may underestimate the prevalence due to pigs with light infections not reaching slaughter slabs.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 576 pigs, with 55.6% being female and ages ranging from 6 to 36 months.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.3-4.0 for T. solium; 95% CI: 14.7–21.1 for T. gondii
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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