Sympatric Occurrence of and Spp. in Cattle from Narok County, Kenya: Meat Inspection Findings with Molecular Validation

The epidemiological picture of infections in Kenya is fragmented with limited available data. Although 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 spp. A meat inspection-based survey was conducted in ten abattoirs in Narok County, Kenya, and inspection for cysticerci was limited to the muscle. The apparent occurrence of the parasite was 5.4% (95% CI, 3.8, 7.6, =573). Molecular confirmation of was done via nested polymerase chain reaction targeting the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene and restricted fragment length polymorphism. 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 and were detected in 8/31 (25.8%) and 1/31 (3.2%) of the cystic lesions, respectively. Co-infections of were found in 6/31 lesions (19.4%). The confirmation of bovine cysticercosis and is suggestive of the presence of risky culinary and sanitation practices that facilitate transmission. This is the first report and molecular confirmation of spp. in cattle in the country. The presence of both zoonotic and pathogenic highlights an underexplored concern of veterinary and human health significance, warranting further epidemiological investigation.