| dc.description.abstract | To estimate the prevalence of
palpable lingual cysts in pigs in Western
Kenya, a possible indicator of porcine
cysticercosis, and to study the potential risk
factors associated with this clinical finding.
During a cross-sectional survey,
316 randomly selected small-scale farms
were visited, from which a case-control
study of 31 case farms and 93 randomly
selected control farms was constructed.
Information on potential risk factors for
Taenia solium cysticercosis-taeniosis was
obtained using questionnaires administered
via personal interviews.
Farm prevalence of palpable
lingual cysts was estimated at 9.8% (31
of 316) (95% confidence interval [CI],
6.5%-13.1%). Total number of pigs testing
positive was 33, resulting in a pig prevalence
of 6.5% (95% CI, 4%-9%). Pigs
were kept as a source of income (98%) and
for home consumption (2%). Sources of
pigs included local purchases (94%; 117
of 124), and purchases from Uganda (6%;
seven of 124). Most farmers (95%; 118 of
124) kept their pigs on free range. Pork was
sourced from local butcheries (85%) and
home slaughtering (15%). Most households
slaughtering pigs at home had their
pork “inspected” by household friends (five
of nine). Absence of latrines was more common
in case households (42%; 13 of 31)
than in controls (18%; 17 of 93) (P = .01;
OR = 3.2; 95% CI, 1.2%-
8.55).
Palpable lingual cysts are
prevalent in the locally raised pigs of
Western Kenya. Further studies using more
sensitive diagnostic tests are required to
confirm the risk of porcine cysticercosis. | en |
