Sympatric occurrence of <i>Taenia saginata</i> and <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. in cattle from Narok County, Kenya: meat inspection findings with molecular validation

Abstract

The epidemiological picture of <i>Taenia saginata</i> infections in Kenya is fragmented with limited available data. Although <i>Sarcocystis</i> species are significant meat-borne parasites, few studies have explored their occurrence in Kenya. This study aimed to estimate the occurrence of bovine cysticercosis and screen for the presence of <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. A meat inspection-based survey was conducted in ten abattoirs in Narok County, Kenya, and inspection for <i>T. saginata</i> cysticerci was limited to the <i>Triceps brachii</i> muscle. The apparent occurrence of the parasite was 5.4% (95% CI, 3.8, 7.6, <i>n</i>=573). Molecular confirmation of <i>T. saginata</i> was done via nested polymerase chain reaction targeting the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene and restricted fragment length polymorphism. <i>Sarcocystis</i> species were identified using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction method targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequences and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Of the 31 cystic lesions tested, 26/31 (83.9%) were confirmed to be <i>T. saginata.</i><i>Sarcocystis cruzi</i> and <i>S. hominis</i> were detected in 8/31 (25.8%) and 1/31 (3.2%) of the cystic lesions, respectively. Co-infections of <i>S. cruzi and T. saginata</i> were found in 6/31 lesions (19.4%). The confirmation of bovine cysticercosis and <i>S. hominis</i> is suggestive of the presence of risky culinary and sanitation practices that facilitate transmission. This is the first report and molecular confirmation of <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. in cattle in the country. The presence of both zoonotic <i>S. hominis</i> and pathogenic <i>S. cruzi</i> highlights an underexplored concern of veterinary and human health significance, warranting further epidemiological investigation.