Survey of Buffalo Slaughtering Places and Meat Shops of Kirtipur Municipality for Infrastructure Facilities and Prevalence of Helminth Parasites

Abstract

During the study period from Nov. 2007 to July 2008, a total of 200 buffaloes slaughtered for meat were surveyed in a total of 12 slaughtering places found over the entire Kirtipur municipality. The buffaloes were categorized as male, female, calf, adult and old, and examination was carried out. Out of total examined, 39 buffaloes (19.50%) were found positive for hydatid cysts. More buffaloes were found infected with Echinococcus during winter (25.00%) than summer (14.00%) which was significant (χ2 0.05, 1d.f =3.851). Females (23.08%) were found infected with Echinococcus more often than males (13.79%) but the difference was not found significant (χ2 0.05, 1d.f =3.851). Again old animals (30.25%) were found more infected with Echinococcus than calves (11.11%) and adults (7.84%) which was significant as well (χ2 0.05, 2d.f =14.19). Altogether 100 hydatid cysts were found in 39 animals (an average of 2.56 cysts per animal) and out of them 14 (35.89%) animals had single infection while 25 (64.10%) had multiple infection. Similarly 94.00% of the cysts observed were found fertile while only 6.00% was found sterile. Hydatid cysts were observed mainly in the lungs and the livers. 76.00% were located in lungs, 23.00% in liver and 1.00% in the spleen. The study showed 57 (28.50%) buffaloes positive for Fasciola: the prevalence being higher during winter (35.00%) in comparison to summer (22.00%). Females (38.05%) had fascioliasis more often than males (16.09%). Also old animals (35.78%) were found more infected than calves (14.81%) and adults (29.41%). Infection with Fasciola hepatica (59.65%) was found slightly greater in compare to Fasciola gigantica (52.63%). The prevalence varied significantly between different seasons (χ2 0.05, 1d.f =4.14); sexes (χ2 0.05, 1d.f =11.63) and ages (χ2 0.05, 2d.f =7.45). Similarly 27.50% buffaloes were found infected with Taenia cyst (cysticercosis): the prevalence being 27.00% during winter and 28.00% during the summer. The prevalence was found more in females (34.51%) than in males (18.39%). Again old animals (41.05%) were found infected with the cyst of Taenia saginata more often than the calves (9.26%) and adults (21.56%). The cysts were mostly observed in the food pipe. The prevalence varied significantly between sexes (χ2 0.05, 1d.f =6.39) and different age group (χ2 0.05, 2d.f =18.66) of the slaughtered animals but not varied between winter and summer season (χ2 0.05, 1d.f =0.024). The survey of slaughtering places and meat shops revealed the poor infrastructure and facilities present in them. 66.66% of the slaughtering places lacked even the basic facilities like facilities of roof, concrete floor, good water supply and space or container for offal disposal drainage and were always found visited by dogs. 67.85% of the butchers were unaware of the meat borne diseases and 64.28% butchers didn’t have any knowledge about impact on environment due to slaughtering places. During the study, 36 (72.00%) buff selling shops were found over the entire Kirtipur municipality. The facilities in these shops were also found primitive or lacking and most of the meat sellers (88.88%) had no idea about meat borne diseases as well. The study found no pre and post mortem meat inspection and slaughter house examination by any authority of the government institution.