Epidemiological Studies on Sarcocystis in Benue State, Nigeria: Animal Infections, Abattoir Practices, Human Risk Factors and Perceptions of Butchers and Meat Sellers

Meat-borne zoonotic diseases are becoming an increasing public health concern as a result of unprecedented interaction between animals and humans and deteriorating sanitation and hygiene around meat processing facilities. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence and morphology of sarcocysts isolates found in various tissues meat animals and investigate practices by butchers and meat sellers that are potential risk for human infection. A total of 75 carcasses of ruminant animals comprised of 15 Cattles, 15 Goats and 45 pigs were sampled from abattoirs in Adikpo, Otukpo and Makurdi. Animal parts were examined macroscopically, for gross pathological lesions. Organs were thoroughly inspected for the presence of <i>Sarcocystis</i> species macrocysts and histologically examined using Haematoxylin and Eosin Technique. Structured questionnaire was designed and administered to investigate butchers and meat sellers’ meat safety-related knowledge and practices. An abattoir checklist was used to evaluate abattoirs based on the presence and functionality meat handling processes and infrastructures. The overall prevalence of sarcocystis was 52.0% with pigs accounting for the highest infection of 73.3% (χ<sup>2</sup>=4.77 P=0.092). In all the animal tissues sampled, sarcocystis cysts were most predominant in the heart 49.33% and muscles 36.00%. Animals slaughtered in Makurdi and Adikpo abattoirs had higher sarcocystis prevalence though the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Abattoir slaughter slabs are inadequate with 47.5% of butchers slaughtering and portioning their animals on slabs while 43.1% do same on the floor inside or outside the abattoirs. While 33.5% of butchers self-reported the capacity to identify diseased and infected meat, in contrast 67.5% indicated inability to identify diseased animals or infected portions of meat. There was no significant association between the ability to identify meat- or animal-borne diseases and location (χ<sup>2</sup>=6.31 P=0.177). Furthermore, 76.3% of respondents have never undergone any formal training in safe meat handling procedures, 85.2% reported that such training is essential to reduce associated risks of contamination (χ²=6.86; p=0.032). A significant 65.7% of respondents merely cut off and discard perceived infected portion of meat while only 1.7% self-reported reported ever discarding whole carcass (χ<sup>2</sup>=51.52; P=0.000). The study underscores the urgent need for targeted health education, improved abattoir management, and routine veterinary inspections to mitigate public health risks posed by <i>Sarcocystis</i> infection in this region.