Prevalence of Bovine Cysticercosis in the North West Province of South Africa from 2000 to 2010

KEYWORDS Abattoir. Cattle. Cysticercus bovis. Seasonal. Sex ABSTRACT A retrospective study covering the period 2000-2010 was conducted using post mortem meat inspection records of the Provincial Veterinary Department to determine the prevalence, seasonal and sex related variations in the occurrence of Cysticercus bovis infections. Records of monthly and annual returns from three randomly selected abattoirs in the Northwest province were examined with regards to total cattle slaughtered and post mortem inspec- tion results. Between 2000 and 2010, a total of 393 858 cattle were slaughtered at the 3 abattoirs. The overall prevalence of C. bovis was 0.2 percent. 52 percent of the positive animals were female although the difference was not significant (p<0.05). The prevalence was significantly (p<0.05) higher (0.3 percent) at low through put abattoirs than at high through put abattoirs (0.2 percent). The prevalence reduced slightly from 0.2 to 0.1 percent after 2005 although the decrease was not significant. The dry season also had a non-significantly higher prevalence of 0.2 percent than the 0.1 percent over the wet seasons. Only abattoir type had influence on prevalence, with the low through put abattoirs recording a significantly higher rate. © Kamla-Raj 2011