Goat farming is important for the livelihood of millions of rural people because it contributes to food security and creation of assets. However, infection of goats with Toxoplasma gondii could be a source of parasite transmission to humans. The information on T. gondii infection of goat was not reported yet in Myanmar. A total of 119 goat serum samples were collected from three cities in the central region of Myanmar for T. gondii antibody survey. With the occurrence value obtained in this first study, a second one, more complete, with larger number (162) of animals and properties, was carried out and the risk factors and prevalence were determined. In both studies the samples were analyzed by the LAT. Of these, 32 (11.4%) samples were showed to be positive. The infection was associated with the presence of cats at the farm (odds ratio [OR] = 4.66, 95% confidential interval [CI] = 1.03–21.06), farming with different animal species (sheep, cattle, and pigs) (OR = 4.33, 95% CI = 1.57–11.94), and farming without good management practices (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.06–0.83). This is the first T. gondii prevalence study in goats in the country.

Cross-sectional surveys were conducted to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of Taenia solium cysticercosis in pigs within Nay Pyi Taw area, Myanmar. Meat inspection in three slaughterhouses, ELISA test, and questionnaire surveys were conducted in this study. Three hundred pigs were inspected in slaughterhouses and 364 pigs were randomly selected and examined from 203 households from three townships in Nay Pyi Taw area. The prevalence of porcine cysticercosis in meat inspection was 23.67% (71/300). Seroprevalence of T. solium cysticercosis in pigs in the study area was 15.93% (58/364). Significant associated risk factors with T. solium cysticercosis were gender (OR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.7–5.4), increased age (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.2–4.2), husbandry system (OR = 5.1; 95% CI = 2.4–11.2), feed type (OR = 16.9; 95% CI = 2.3–124.3), not using anthelmintics in pigs (OR = 11.9; 95% CI = 5.0–28.5), not using anthelmintics in owner (OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.4–4.4), no hand-washing before feeding (OR = 31.5; 95% CI = 4.3–230.9), and pork consumption of owner (OR = 37.4; 95% CI = 9.0–156.1) in the study area. This is the first report of porcine cysticercosis in Myanmar.

A cross-sectional study of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs was carried out in backyard farms in three townships, within Nay Pyi Taw area from June 2014 to August 2014. Blood samples were randomly collected from 256 pigs in 129 farms. Using commercial Latex Agglutination Test kits, specific antibodies to T. gondii were analyzed. Based on LAT results, among 256 serum samples examined, 47 samples (18.4%) were found positive to T. gondii. The numbers of samples showing specific antibody titres from 47 positive pig sera were 20 at 1:64, 2 samples at 1:128, 9 samples at 1:256, 3 samples at 1:512 and 13 samples at 1:1024. Among the hypothesized risk factors, roaming of cats around the farm was found associated to T. gondii seropositivity in pigs (OR = 3.13; 95% CI = 1.33–7.34). This study provides information on seroepidemiology study of T. gondii in backyard pigs for the first time in Myanmar. This information will be useful in developing strategies for the control of T. gondii infection in pigs.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of trichinellosis in slaughtered pigs from three slaughterhouses located in Pyinmana, Lewe and Tatkon Townships, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. Targeted population was 1,980 slaughtered pigs from those slaughterhouses and 90 pigs were randomly selected during the study period of January to March, 2012. A total of 270 muscle samples (tongue, masseter and diaphragmatic muscles from each pig) from 90 slaughtered pigs were collected and examined for the presence of Trichinella larvae by using artificial digestion method. Among the examined samples, three samples from three pigs (3.3%) showed Trichinella positive. Trichinella larvae were observed from two diaphragmatic muscles and one masseter muscle. In those positive samples, Trichinella larval intensity per gram (lpg) was 0.2. For the determination of associated risk factors of trichinellosis, questionnaire interviews to officials of slaughterhouses and owners of slaughtered pigs were conducted. Among the hypothesized risk factors, the presence of rodents around the pig farm and type of feed (use of uncooked waste feed) were identified as associated risk factors for trichinellosis. Age, gender, body weight, rearing system and use of anthelmintics appeared no association with porcine trichinellosis in this study.