Assessing the Effectiveness of Meat Inspection in Reducing Cysticercosis-Related Public Health Risk in Anambra State

Porcine cysticercosis caused by Taenia solium is a neglected tropical disease in which meat inspection serves as the principal food chain defense. However, the effectiveness of routine meat inspection in detecting cysticercosis has been questioned. This study assessed the effectiveness of meat inspection in reducing cysticercosis-related public health risk in Anambra State, South East Nigeria. A comparative study was conducted at Onitsha and Awka abattoirs. Standardized tongue, masseter, and heart incisions were compared against enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay serology of corresponding carcasses as the gold standard. Sensitivity and specificity of routine visual inspection were calculated. In parallel, a community survey of 200 pork consumers assessed undercooked pork consumption practices. Routine visual inspection achieved a sensitivity of only 29.4% against serological confirmation, meaning the majority of infected carcasses passed inspection undetected. Specificity was 94.8%. Community data revealed that 63.5% of respondents consumed inadequately cooked pork. The combined findings suggest that a substantial portion of cysticercotic pork enters the human food chain undetected. The study concludes that current meat inspection methods are insufficient to protect the public from porcine cysticercosis and recommends introduction of antigen-based testing at abattoirs, consumer education on cooking temperatures, open defecation elimination programs, and a community-based Taenia control strategy. Keywords: porcine cysticercosis, meat inspection, Taenia solium, Anambra State, food safety