Asian Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

Pig production plays a significant role in India’s livestock economy; however, parasitic helminth infections continue to cause substantial economic losses and pose important zoonotic public health risks. Despite improvements in sanitation and meat inspection practices, porcine metacestodes such as cysticercosis and hydatidosis persist in endemic regions, highlighting the need for continuous surveillance and integrated One Health–based control strategies. A cross-sectional abattoir-based investigation was conducted to determine the prevalence, zoonotic significance, and economic impact of helminthic metacestodes in pigs slaughtered at Deonar abattoir, Mumbai, over a period of 11 months (March 2025 to January 2026). A total of 3,129 pig carcasses were systematically examined during routine meat inspection. The overall prevalence of metacestode infections was 3.55%, with 111 pigs affected. Single infections (3.36%) predominated over mixed infections (0.19%). The most prevalent parasite was suspected Cysticercus viscerotropica (1.37%), followed by Cysticercus tenuicollis (1.09%), Hydatid cysts (0.73%), and Cysticercus cellulosae (0.35%). No evidence of Trichinella spp. or Opisthorchiid flukes was detected. Seasonal variation showed higher prevalence during the monsoon (5.68%) compared to winter (2.59%) and summer (2.54%), although the differences were statistically non-significant. Organ-wise distribution revealed that hydatid cysts were predominantly detected in the lungs (0.54%), followed by the spleen (0.16%) and liver (0.03%), and all cysts were sterile. Cysticercus tenuicollis was mainly localized in the omentum and mesentery, whereas Cysticercus cellulosae was predominantly found in skeletal musculature with occasional cardiac involvement. Molecular analysis of suspected C. viscerotropica lesions did not confirm Taenia asiatica. Economic analysis revealed total losses of ₹4,04,516.8 due to organ and carcass condemnation, with cysticercosis contributing the highest loss. Meta-analysis of human infections further suggests that cysticercosis and hydatidosis remain significant zoonotic parasitic diseases in India, whereas Trichinella spp. and Taenia asiatica occur only sporadically. Despite the relatively low prevalence observed, the detection of metacestodes indicates persistent environmental contamination and ongoing transmission cycles.

The study highlights the need for strengthened meat inspection, improved sanitation, and integrated One Health–based surveillance, proper disposal of infected offal, and enhanced control strategies to minimize zoonotic transmission and safeguard public health as well as the sustainability of pig production systems.