Taeniasis, cysticercosis and echinococcosis/hydatidosis in Nigeria: II--prevalence of bovine and porcine cysticercosis, and hydatid disease in slaughtered food animals based on retrospective analysis of abattoir records.

A retrospective analysis of slaughterhouse records during the pre-veterinary-organized meat inspection era (before 1970) for cysticercosis and hydatidosis in food animals showed that parasitic cysts were documented but not identified and that the numbers of slaughtered animal species harbouring various parasitic cysts were not recorded. Since the various parasites which the meat inspectors observed were not identified, the prevalence of species encountered could not be determined. An analysis of abattoir records during the veterinary meat inspection era showed that Cysticercus bovis and C. cellulosae infections were documented in cattle and pigs respectively. Moreover, hydatid cysts were detected in cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and camels. The data obtained from this survey cannot be wholly relied upon as accurate, but it can be used as a baseline for the proper evaluation of the status of these zoonotic parasitic diseases in future co-ordinated researches.