<Home> <Health-an Islamic Perspective> <Balantidiosis, Cysticercosis and Trichinellosis>

Prof. Abdul Hafez Helmy KUWAIT

ABSTRACT
The paper reviews the most important parasitic diseases transmissible to man from pigs and treats in some detail three very important diseases the pig plays an essential role in their epidemiology. The paper stresses the following points, in particular:

1. Balantidiosis is a direct zoonosis - an anthropozoonosis, and is usually occupational affecting certian sections of the society, but its range may be extended in some cases to involve wider sections. Cysticercosis is a partially reversed direct zoonosis, while trichinellosis is a direct zoonosis. The latter two diseases are particularly very serious.

2. It is a gross mistake, or even a great danger, to underestimate these diseases or to agree with notions claiming that the prohibition of pork is only a matter of religious obedience and discipline and that the pig is not unique in its burden of parasites.

3. Some of the diseases transmissible to man from the pig are not transmitted through ingesting swine meat, but the prohibition of meat effectively devaluates the animal economically.

4. Some of the parasites of the pig may be transmitted to other animals allowed for Moslem consumption.

5. It was taken for granted that trichinellosis is not known in most of our Moslem countries, but its existence has been confirmed in some of them.

6. We should be very alert to the problem and to remain vigilant of the possible public health hezards.

7. The whole matter should find due consideration in medical and science teaching programmes in our universities.

The paper points to the fact that the prohibition of pork, is a "reasoned" one, and that it is inherently Haram. We should, therefore, do our best to find out at least some of the underlying reasons for its prohibition. Doing this we appreciate the bless invoked by Allah on us ---

HE WILL MAKE LAWFUL FOR THEM ALL GOOD THINGS AND PROHIBIT FOR THEM ONLY THE FOUL (S.7: V, 157).

Moreover, there are apparent practical advantages as this paper tries to reveal.

* As the full text could not be made available, we are publishing here the abstract only.