Ogutu, Henry Joash Otieno2024-06-252020Ogutu, H. J. O. (2020). Risk assessment of cystic hydatidosis in cattle slaughtered at Busia Town Abattoirs Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, Moi University).https://repository.nrf.go.ke/handle/123456789/945Introduction: Hydatidosis, a re-emerging parasitic zoonosis caused by larval stageof Echinococcus is endemic in South America, Asia and East Africa including Kenya.Globally, hydatidosis causes economic losses of more than three billion United StatesDollars (USD) annually and in Kenya, losses are more than 240,000 USD. Known riskfactors for transmission of E. granulosus include allowing dogs to roam freely, feedingdogs on infested viscera, slaughtering animals at home which lead to improper disposalof infested organs and carcasses, drinking non-boiled water, eating raw vegetables,failing to wash hands before meals, presence of wild carnivores near homesteads, lowknowledge, attitude (KAP) and poor practices and uncontrolled movement of livestockfrom endemic to non-endemic areas. Busia offers livestock market for Kenya andUganda.Objectives: The study estimated prevalence, identified possible risk of CH toBusia, and assessed KAP among cattle owners, traders and abattoir workers.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on cattle slaughtered in two Busiatown abattoirs between May and June 2018. In-person interviews were done using astructured questionnaire to assess KAP of participants on hydatidosis and establishorigin of each slaughtered animal. Routine meat inspection was done to determine CHinfestation status of carcasses. Whole cysts were removed and put in labelled and zippedpolythene bags for confirmation using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data wereanalyzed using Microsoft Excel and Epi info to calculate proportions, 95% confidenceintervals and do logistic regressions for associated factors respectively. We usedbivariate and logistic regression to examine factors associated with knowledge on CHamong study participants.Results: A total of 302 carcasses; 222 (73.51%) males and 80 (26.49%) females wereinspected and 310 questionnaires administered to participants. Nine (2.98%, 95% CI:1.46-5.78) carcasses were positive for hydatidosis; eight (88.89%) carcasses werefemale and five of the nine positive cases (55.56%) had multiple organ infestations.Main infested organs were liver (n=7) and lung (n=4). Total samples collected were 14,of which 13 (92.86%) were positive on PCR test. All the positive carcasses were fromWest Pokot County which was a major risk. Male participants were 260 (83.87%, 95%CI: 79.19 – 87.69); median age was 41 years (range = 21-69). Participants with adequateknowledge were 40 (12.90%) and with good attitude were 123 (39.68%). Dog keeperswere 221 (71.99%, 95% CI: 66.55 – 76.87) of which 83 (37.56%, 95% CI: 28.33 –48.52) improperly disposed of dog faeces. Home slaughtering was practiced by 196(63.23%, 95% CI: 58.78-69.80); 115 (58.67%, 95% CI: 51.44-65.64) were notinspected and 85 (43.37%, 95% CI: 36.32-50.62) of raw organs fed to dogs.Conclusions: The study reported a prevalence of 2.98% for CH in Busia, however allcases were imported from West Pokot. The imported cattle from West Pokot via crosscounty trade were a major risk factor for introducing the parasite to Busia. Furthermore,communities in Busia are unfamiliar with CH and engage in practices that may increasetheir risk of infestation.Recommendations: To reduce the risk of introducing the parasite into Busia, propermeat inspection should be done and infested organs or carcasses be condemned andproperly disposed of as animals from endemic areas are screened for CH before beingallowed for slaughter in Busia County. Busia communities need public health educationto improve their KAP on CH and also to practice responsible dog ownership. Futurestudies can focus on prevalence of CH in humans and dogs in BusiaenCattle abattoirsRisk assessmentcystic hydatidosisThesis