Browsing by Author "Kassuku, A. A."

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Hydatidosis of slaughtered animals in Ngorongoro district of Arusha region, Tanzania
(2008-12) Ernest, E.; Nonga, H. E.; Kassuku, A. A.; Kazwala, R. R.
A study on the prevalence of hydatidosis in cattle, goats and sheep was carried out in Ngorongoro district of Arusha region, Tanzania. A 4-years data records from four slaughter slabs were retrieved and analysed. In addition, meat inspection was done in the same slaughter slabs for nine months and 64 households were interviewed to assess the community awareness on hydatidosis. Results showed the overall prevalence of hydatidosis to be 47.9%. Species prevalence of 48.7%, 34.7% and 63.8% in cattle, goats and sheep respectively was recorded. Of 174 cysts examined in cattle, 37 (21.3%) were fertile, 126 (72.4%) were sterile and 11 (6.3%) were calcified. Out of 215 goats and 67 sheep cysts examined, 52 (24.7%) and 26 (38.8%) were fertile, 138 (64.2%) and 38 (56.7%) were sterile, 24 (11.2%) and 3 (4.5%) were calcified respectively. The higher percentage offertile hydatid cysts in sheep and goats coupled with the practice of backyard slaughter of sheep and goats suggests that, these animals could be important intermediate hosts for the maintenance of the domestic life cycle of E. granulosus in the locality. Questionnaire survey revealed that 17.2% of the respondents were aware of hydatidosis but non of them were knowledgeable on its transmission. Up to 84.4% of the respondents had domestic ruminants and donkeys, while 89.1% had dogs. Of the households with dogs, only 19.3% had their dogs dewormed at least once in life time. Most of the households (87.7%) had their dogs managed freely and 77.2% of the respondents reported school children to be the closest friends of dogs in the family. The prevalence of E. granulosus infection in wildlife and the possible relationship of the domestic cycle to the sylvatic cycle operating in the same area are unknown and need to be studied.
Prevalence and economic significance of bovine fasciolosis in slaughtered cattle at Arusha abattoir, Tanzania
(2009) Mwabonimana, M-F; Kassuku, A. A.; Ngowi, H. A.; Mellau, L. S. B.; Nonga, H. E.; Karimuribo, E. D.
The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence and economic significance of fasciolosis in cattle slaughtered at Arusha abattoir in Tanzania. A 3-year database (2005-2008) from the abattoir was retrieved and analysed. In addition, meat inspection was carried out for one month (July 2008) with focus on Fasciola infection and its associated economic loss due to liver condemnation. Results from the retrospective study revealed that 8302 (6.7%) livers out of 123790 examined livers were condemned due to fasciolosis. Analysis of primary data (meat inspection) showed that 150 of 469 cattle livers condemned were due to fasciolosis, a relative condemnation rate of 32.0% per month. Based on the current local price of liver, the economic loss per month due to liver condemnation was estimated at Tanzania shillings (TZS) 1,800,000/- (approximately US $1,500), which summed to TZS 21,600,000/- (US $18,000) per annum. The specific cause of liver fasciolosis was Fasciola gigantica. These results indicate that F. gigantica infection is an important condition that leads to high liver condemnation rates in cattle slaughtered, resulting into high financial loss. This merits for more extensive epidemiological investigations to better determine the prevalence, economic impact and public health importance of the disease.
Prevalence and financial losses associated with Bovine fasciolosis at SAAFI and Sumbawanga municipal abattoirs, Rukwa, Tanzania
(African Journal Online, 2013-05-15) Kamwela, K.M.; Kassuku, A. A.; Nonga, H. E.
This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and financial losses of Bovine fasciolosis at SAAFI and Sumbawanga municipal abattoirs. Primary data was collected for one month (November/December 2012) through meat inspection. Secondary data was retrieved from the abattoir records for the period of five years (January 2008 to December 2012). During the one month of prospective study period, a total of 677 cattle were slaughtered at SAAFI abattoir and 45.4% of the livers were condemned due to fasciolosis. At Sumbawanga municipal abattoir 594 cattle were slaughtered, 47.1% of the livers were also condemned due to fasciolosis. The overall prevalence of fasciolosis for five years at SAAFI abattoir was 26.5% (10 592 cattle slaughtered and 2 801 livers were condemned due to fasciolosis) while that of Sumbawanga municipal abattoir was 16.4% (23 612 cattle slaughtered and 3 862 livers were condemned due to fasciolosis). Fasciola gigantica was found to be the liver fluke species affecting cattle slaughtered in Rukwa region. The one month (November/December) financial loss due to liver condemnation (Fasciola infected) was Tanzania shilings (TZS) 5 894 400 (USD 3 497) and TZS 5 376 000 (USD 3 190) for SAAFI and Sumbawanga municipal abattoirs, respectively. The public health implication on the quantity of infected livers condemned and the losses incured by livestock and meat traders warrants for more extensive epidemiological investigations to determine the magnitude of the problem in live animals and institution of proper control strategies of fasciolosis in the study area
Prevalence and mean intensity of ectoparasite infections in pond reared Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Morogoro Tanzania.
(Tanzania Veterinary Journal, 2014) Mathew, C; Mwamengele, G; Mdegela, R. H.; Kassuku, A. A.
cross sectional study was carried out between September 2007 and September 2008 to investigate the prevalence and mean intensity of ectoparasite infections on the gills and skin of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Morogoro, Tanzania. A total of 229 fish from 19 ponds were studied. Trichodina spp. and Monogeneans were the only ectoparasites observed. Overall prevalence of ectoparasites in the study area was 68% and the average mean intensity was 5.3. Trichodina spp. were more prevalent (P<0.05) than Monogeneans. Gills were more affected with parasites than the skin (P<0.05). There was no strong relationship between water quality and prevalence and mean intensity of parasites. Prevalence and mean intensity varied in different ponds due to different management practices and the knowledge of fish husbandry. Parasite infection was significantly higher in urban than in rural areas (P<0.05). There is a need for farmers to be trained on proper fish husbandry and pond management in order to reduce the risk of parasite multiplication in the ponds and hence infection rate.
Spatial Clustering of Porcine Cysticercosis in Mbulu District, Northern Tanzania
(PLoS, 2010-04-06) Ngowi, H. A.; Kassuku, A. A.; Carabin, H.; Mlangwa, J. E. D.; Mlozi, M. R. S.
Background: Porcine cysticercosis is caused by a zoonotic tapeworm, Taenia solium, which causes serious disease syndromes in human. Effective control of the parasite requires knowledge on the burden and pattern of the infections in order to properly direct limited resources. The objective of this study was to establish the spatial distribution of porcine cysticercosis in Mbulu district, northern Tanzania, to guide control strategies. Methodology/Principal Findings: This study is a secondary analysis of data collected during the baseline and follow-up periods of a randomized community trial aiming at reducing the incidence rate of porcine cysticercosis through an educational program. At baseline, 784 randomly selected pig-keeping households located in 42 villages in 14 wards were included. Lingual examination of indigenous pigs aged 2–12 (median 8) months, one randomly selected from each household, were conducted. Data from the control group of the randomized trial that included 21 of the 42 villages were used for the incidence study. A total of 295 pig-keeping households were provided with sentinel pigs (one each) and reassessed for cysticercosis incidence once or twice for 2–9 (median 4) months using lingual examination and antigen ELISA. Prevalence of porcine cysticercosis was computed in Epi Info 3.5. The prevalence and incidence of porcine cysticercosis were mapped at household level using ArcView 3.2. K functions were computed in R software to assess general clustering of porcine cysticercosis. Spatial scan statistics were computed in SatScan to identify local clusters of the infection. The overall prevalence of porcine cysticercosis was 7.3% (95% CI: 5.6, 9.4; n = 784). The K functions revealed a significant overall clustering of porcine cysticercosis incidence for all distances between 600 m and 5 km from a randomly chosen case household based on Ag-ELISA. Lingual examination revealed clustering from 650 m to 6 km and between 7.5 and 10 km. The prevalence study did not reveal any significant clustering by this method. Spatial scan statistics found one significant cluster of porcine cysticercosis prevalence (P = 0.0036; n = 370). In addition, the analysis found one large cluster of porcine cysticercosis incidence based on Ag-ELISA (P = 0.0010; n = 236) and two relatively small clusters of incidence based on lingual examination (P = 0.0012 and P = 0.0026; n = 241). These clusters had similar spatial location and included six wards, four of which were identified as high risk areas of porcine cysticercosis. Conclusion/Significance: This study has identified local clusters of porcine cysticercosis in Mbulu district, northern Tanzania, where limited resources for control of T. solium could be directed. Further studies are needed to establish causes of clustering to institute appropriate interventions.