Meat borne parasitic zoonoses in India

Abstract

Meat borne zoonotic parasites prevalent in India include Taenia solium, Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis suihominis. In addition, parasites such as Taenia saginata, Sarcocystis hominis, and Trichinella spiralis have also been reported. Primary routes of transmission of these parasites in the food animals involve consumption of food/water contaminated by eggs/cyst of the parasites. People become infected with meat borne zoonotic parasites after consuming raw or undercooked pork, mutton, chevon, game, and beef. Meat borne zoonoses are usually associated with poor hygiene and sanitary measures, improper cooking practices, lack of meat inspection and dearth of awareness. There is a need to run educational campaigns to create large scale awareness in public about the good hygiene, sanitation, and culinary practices, which could help to reduce the risk of meat borne pathogens. National level surveillance and control programs are required to determine the status of meat borne zoonotic pathogens. One health approach is the most viable solution to control meat-borne zoonotic parasites; the team members for One Health programs should include all the key stake holders for example, veterinarians, medical doctors, epidemiologists, farmers, consumers and policy makers. This review presents comprehensive information on the meat borne zoonotic parasites in India.