Prevalence of cysticercosis among small ruminant animals slaughtered in Iganga municipal abattoir.
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Date
2025
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Busitema University
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Cysticercus tenuicollis and hydatid cysts in goats and sheep slaughtered at Iganga District Municipal Abattoir, Uganda.
A cross-sectional study was conducted involving postmortem examinations of 212 livestock (106 goats and 106 sheep). Metacestodes were identified through visual inspection, incision, and palpation of organs.
The prevalence of Cysticercus tenuicollis was highest in adults (>3 years, 68.4%), followed by middle-aged (2-3years, 30.2%) and young animals (<2 years, 7.9%). Similarly, hydatid cysts were more prevalent in adults (15.8%) than middle-aged (9.4%) and young animals (0.0%).
Prevalence of Cysticercus tenuicollis was similar in males (18.9%) and females (18.8%), while hydatid cysts were slightly higher in males (4.2%) than females (3.4%), but these differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.979 and p = 0.764, respectively).
Both parasites were most prevalent in poor body conditioned livestock (Cysticercus tenuicollis: 46.5%, hydatid cysts: 16.3%), followed by medium (15.2% and 0.9%) and good (5.2% and 0.0%) body conditioned animals. Prevalence varied across sub-counties, being highest in Bulamagi (25% and 6.4%) and lowest in Nakalama (14.3% and 0.0%), though differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.458 and p = 0.370).
Hydatid cysts were predominantly located in the liver rather than the lungs in both sheep and goats.
The high prevalence of these metacestodes causes economic losses and public health risks, highlighting the need for further studies and public education on prevention and control of E. granulosus and Cysticercus tenuicollis.
Key words: Cysticercosis, Hydatid cysts, Small ruminants, Prevalence, Organ distribution
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Mwanja, S., & Kulaka, A. T. (2025). Prevalence of Cysticercosis Among Small Ruminant Animals Slaughtered in Iganga Abattoir. Busitema University. https://doi.org/10.47363/jalp/2025(6)144.