Adikwu, Alex A., Iorparegh, Tyonginengen, Per, Felix M., Adamu, Andrew M., Owolodun, Olajide A., Horwood, Paul F., Emeto, Theophilus I., and Adegboye, Oyelola A. (2025) Prevalence of Cysticercosis in Pigs and Risk Assessment Among Occupationally Exposed Workers in Benue State, Nigeria. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 11. e70367.

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Abstract

Aim: Cysticercosis is a key zoonotic disease burden, posing significant public health challenges. Neurocysticercosis, a sequela associated with the larval stage of Taenia solium, is a recognised cause of late-onset epilepsy in humans, thereby highlighting the need for robust epidemiological data. This study investigated the prevalence of cysticercosis in slaughtered pigs within Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, to contribute to understanding the disease’s local epidemiology and associated risk factors.

Methods: From January to August 2019, we examined pig carcasses at four abattoirs: Utyondomarket, Wurukumabattoir, Modern market, and Railway abattoirs. Structured questionnaires were administered to butchers, pig farmers, and civil servants to gather information on disease knowledge. A total of 2,176 pig carcasses were examined.

Results: Among the examined carcasses, 24 (1.1%) were infected. Of these, 18 (0.83%) were boars, and 6 (0.28%) were sows. The highest prevalence was observed in Utyondo market (2.75%), followed by Wurukum (0.77%) and Railway markets (0.65%). The diaphragm (odds ratio (OR) = 0.09; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01-0.70) and the tongue (OR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.04-0.81) were less likely to be infected compared to the shoulder. Knowledge of cysticercosis was relatively high across all participants (71.72%, 95% CI: 61.77-80.31).

Conclusion: Our findings indicate the endemicity of porcine cysticercosis in Makurdi abattoirs. While knowledge of the disease seems relatively widespread among exposed populations, gaps exist in understanding transmission routes. A collaborative One Health approach involving studies on occupationally exposed individuals is recommended for a comprehensive understanding of the disease burden and to develop targeted control strategies.

Item ID:	85705
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2053-1095
Copyright Information:	This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Date Deposited:	03 Jun 2025 22:45
FoR Codes:	30 AGRICULTURAL, VETERINARY AND FOOD SCIENCES > 3009 Veterinary sciences > 300905 Veterinary epidemiology @ 100%
SEO Codes:	20 HEALTH > 2004 Public health (excl. specific population health) > 200499 Public health (excl. specific population health) not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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