Epidemiological status of taenia/cysticercosis in pigs and human in Nepal

Two hundred and fifty slaughtered pigs for meat purpose, in various localities of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Dharan Municipality were examined for Taenia cysts during January 1997 to April 1998. A surveillance study was also carried out with butchers, meat sellers, farmers and pork consumers to study the awareness of taeniasis/cysticercosis. Data was collected from the hospitals to determine the status of taeniasis/cysticercosis infection in humans. Out of 250 slaughtered pigs examined, thirty-four (13.6%) were found positive for cysticercosis. The sexwise prevalence rate of infection was 8.77% in male pigs and 24.05% in female pigs. The result reveals that females are infected more than the males. Out of 196 slaughtered pigs examined in Kathmandu, 28 (14.28%) were found positive, whereas in Dharan, out of 54, 6 (11.11%) were found positive. The result further reveals that the number of infected pigs is higher in Kathmandu than Dharan. It is due to the importation of infected pigs to Kathmandu both from rural areas of Nepal and India. The results show that pork consumption is risky from a public health point of view. In environments where animal cysticercosis is prevalent, human taeniasis/cysticercosis is likely to be present. Prevalence of Taenia solium infection in pigs was therefore observed and recorded for the first time in Dharan Municipality and Kathmandu Metropolitan Municipality in