Nexus between prevalence of Taenia solium (Cysticercus cellulosae) in pigs and retrospective study of humans cysticercosis cases in Benin hospitals.

The cysticercosis is a major zoonotic disease in many developing countries. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis and to identify potential risk factors associated and their seroprevalence as well in Benin. The tongue palpation was performed on 4150 pigs from the pig farmers were randomly selected to diagnose cysticercosis and to assess the risk factors associated. In slaughterhouses, 792 pigs were inspected. Serum samples from 460 pigs were tested of the presence of Taenia solium cysticercosis using the HP10 antigen-ELISA (Ag-ELISA). A logistic regression model with a 95% confidence interval was used to analyse the main risk factors associated. The tongue palpation revealed a prevalence of 4.79% at the level of slaughterhouses versus 7.82% in the post-mortem inspection. The Ag-ELISA revealed that more than 40% of the pigs were positive. The risk factors identified were the origin area of pigs, the history of cysticercosis in the farms, the presence or absence of a latrine, the pig-farming systems, the age class of pigs and the source of watering. In addition, 34.48% individuals was tested for taenia versus 13.79% for cysticercosis in the hospitals surveyed. Our results showed the major revelation of porcine cysticercosis and its very high level of risk for a public health in all departments of Benin. Therefore, this study suggests the need to continue epidemiological and sociological surveys with a "One Health" approach in order to design and implement effective control measures in this country of high consumption of pigs.

Impact of heat stress on reproductive performances in dairy goats under tropical sub-humid environment.

Reproductive parameters of dairy animals are generally affected by meteorological factors. This study aimed to investigate the effects of heat stress (HS) on reproductive parameters Saanen and Saanen× Red Maradi (½S½RM) dairy goats reared on a private farm in a tropical sub-humid environment in Benin. To assess the reproductive performances 103 goats (46 Saanen and 57 ½S½RM) were followed up from January 2015 to December 2019. The temperature-humidity index (THI) was obtained during the same period using meteorological data such as ambient temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH). Pearson correlation matrix analysis was then performed between the environmental variables and the reproductive parameters. Reproductive parameters of ½S½RM goats were better than those of Saanen goats. The conception (92.09%), prolificacy (156.54%) and fecundity (117.11%) rates of ½S½RM goats were significantly higher than those of Saanen goats (67.16%; 149.41% and 89.70%). The conception rate of Saanen goats was not affected by the level of THI. The conception, prolificacy, and fertility rates of ½S½RM goats decreased from 97.22%, 161.35% and 121.52%, at moderate THI to 83.89%, 148.86%, and 110.04% at extreme THI, respectively. In summary, although Saanen goats were very efficient in milk production, their reproductive performance was affected by the level of THI. On the contrary, the ½S½RM crossbred goats had a better conception, prolificacy and fertility rates in the sub-humid tropical climate of Benin.