Prevalence and Risk factors of Cysticercus bovis in Khartoum State - Sudan

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted during January to April 2015 to estimate the prevalence of bovine cysticercosis in cattle slaughtered at Elsahafa slaughterhouse in Khartoum state, Sudan. The objectives were to determine the prevalence of bovine cysticercosis and associated potential risk factors, cyst viability and cyst distribution in different body tissues. The slaughterhouse survey was carried out by routine inspection of carcasses and viability test methods. Post mortem examination of 283 slaughtered cattle were examined from randomly selected animals which 3 (1.1%) were infected with T. saginata metacestodes. A total of 16 Cysticercus bovis collected during the inspection, 4 (25%) were found to be viable while others 12(75%) were degenerative cysts. Liver only was the main predilection site of the cysts and no cysts detected in other inspected organs. A univariate analysis was performed using the Chi-square as a test of significance (significance level ≤0.25) for the association between the bovine cysticercosis and the potential risk factors. Four of these potential risk factors were showed significant association to Cysticercus bovis infection which were sex (p-value = 0.158), age (p-value = 0.000), body condition (p-value = 0.003) and source of animal (p-value = 0.000). A logistic regression was performed to the results of the univeriate analysis using the Odds ratio and Chi-square tests as tests of significance association between the four significant potential risk factors and cysticercus bovis infection, but no one of these factors were showed to be of significant association to bovine cysticercosis at the end.