Prevalence and Histopathological Studies on Porcine Cysticercosis in Mumbai Region Based on Abattoir Study

Abstract

In the present study prevalence of Cysticercus cellulosae was studied in 9592 pigs slaughtered at Mumbai abattoir based on strict inspection of pork. Total prevalence of Cysticercus cellulosae was found to be 1.26%. Cyst were found predominantly in shoulder muscles (100%) followed by that in neck (80.99%), masseter (68.03%), thigh (49.58%), tongue (12.39%), diaphragm (10.74%) and cardiac muscles (4.95%), thus validating the current method of incising shoulder muscle during meat inspection for detection of cysticerci in pork, adopted in Mumbai abattoir. The cysts were not encountered in the visceral organs. The intensity of Cysticercus cellulosae cysts, as expressed by number of cysts per unit area, was found to be mild in 50.41%, moderate in 39.67% and heavy in 9.91%. Prevalence of porcine cysticercosis was significantly higher in monsoon as compared to the other two seasons; in female pigs as compared to male pigs and in adult pigs as compared to young ones. Peanut sized milky white colored Cysticercus cellulosae cysts in the skeletal muscles provoked mild inflammatory reaction.