INFLUENCE OF BREED CONDITIONS ON PRESENCE OF INTERNAL PARASITES IN SWINE IN SMALL-SCALE MANAGEMENT

Andrzej Połozowski¹, Jan Zieliński², Ewa Zielińska^2
1 Department of Internal and Parasitic Diseases with Clinic for Horses, Dogs and Cats, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland
² Veterinary Practice, Poniec

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of various conditions of swine breeding in small, private farms on prevalence and intensity of internal parasites infections with taking into consideration the age of animals. The 100 pigs from 11 small farms, from Wielkopolskie area, were examined. Taking account of differences in conditions of breeding, the farms were divided on two groups: A (4) and B (7). In pigs from A farms confirmed solely Oesophagostomum spp. and Ascaris suum infections, in animals from B farms, besides this two species, also Trichuris suis, Strongyloides ransomi and coccidia were observed. In A farms only 21.4% of animals were infected with parasites, however in B farms - as many as 91.4%. In swine from A farms one-species infections prevailed (in 66.7% of infected animals), instead in swine from B farms - multi-species infections (2-,3- or 4-species infections in 73.6% of infected animals). Also considerable differences in intensity of parasites infections between A and B farms were observed.

Key words: parasites, swine, prevalence, intensity of infection, Oesophagostomum spp., Ascaris suum, Trichuris suis, Strongyloides ransomi, Coccidia.

INTRODUCTION

The braving of parasites invasion in swine is usually expensive and little forceful, if condition of breeding are favorable to parasites development. This problem in smallest degree concerns a big farms, in which, thanks to imposed productive-zoohygienics standards and regular prophylactic procedures, invasions of parasites are eliminated or characterize very low prevalence and intensity [1, 2, 11, 14]. So far in works of other authors, private farms were not differentiated in respect of animal breeding conditions (results compared only with results get from large farms [4, 8, 9, 16]). In accordance with it, in own research put for purpose the determination of influence of various conditions of swine breeding in private farms on prevalence and intensity of internal parasites infection with taking into consideration the age of animals. It is unusually important question, because presently begin prefer development of private farms (average largeness), which can balance accounts economically, but simultaneously are equal to requirements of regulations from range of animal wellfare and ecology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The general number of 100 pigs, from 11 private farms from Wielkoposkie area, have been included for research. Farms were divided on two groups: A (4) and B (7). In farms A the faeces and effluents were deleted daily. Troughs were cleaned daily or the feeders were installed. The access of daylight was proper and the ventilation system functioned proficiently. Regulary were executable a disinfection of swine positions and whiting of walls. In farms B animal faeces were deleted every 3 days or more rarely, and outflow of effluents was made difficult. Troughs were not cleaned regulary. The access of daylight was weak and were lack of ventilation facilities. Mostly on B farms (5) strong damp in accommodation were observed. Disinfection procedures were not executable.

The individual stool samples were taked from 42 pigs from farms A (14 sows, 7 fattening pigs, 8 weaners, 13 piglets) and 58 pigs from farms B (20 sows, 17 fattening pigs, 8 weaners, 13 piglets), and were examinated by Fülleborn´s method with saturated NaCl solution and McMaster´s method with preliminary clean-up of faeces [3]. The number of parasites forms in 1 gram of faeces was counted according to following exemplar:

number of eggs (oocysts) in 1 gram of faeces =

Species of parasites were determined on base of morphology of eggs or oocysts. Species of coccidia from genus Eimeria or Isospora were not determined, because in vitro sporulation of observed oocysts was not carried. In research work this species of coccidia were determined as Coccidia (coccidia), according to rules of systematic.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In pigs from A farms confirmed solely Oesophagostomum spp. and Ascaris suum infections, in animals from B farms, besides this two species, also Trichuris suis, Strongyloides ransomi and coccidia were observed. In A farms only 21.4% of animals were infected with parasites (21.4% - Oesophagostomum spp. and 7.1% A. suum), however in B farms - as many as 91.4% (67.2% - Oesophagostomum spp., 50.0% - Coccidia, 39.7% - A. suum, 5.2% - Trichuris suis and 1.7% - Strongyloides ransomi). Prevalence of infecting of age groups of animal which were examinated by particular parasites species are presented in table 1.

In swine from A farms one-species infections prevailed (in 66.7% of infected animals), instead in swine from B farms - multi-species infections (2-,3- or 4-species infections in 73.6% of infected animals). Among multi-species infections in B farms predominated Oesophagostomum spp. + Coccidia (38.5%) and Oesophagostomum spp. + A. suum (28.2%). In two cases, simultaneously eggs of Oesophagostomum spp., A. suum, T. suis and oocysts of coccidia were observed.

Also considerable differences in intensity of parasites infections were observed. In farms A, in sows, average intensity of infection with Oesophagostomum spp. was 50 eggs/gram of faeces, in fattening pigs - 200, in weaners - 125 and in piglets - 250, however in B farms in sows - 2637, in fattening pigs - 1217, in weaners - 433 and in piglets - 1355. Intensity of coccidia infection fluctuated from 950 to 730800 oocysts/gram of faeces (highest average was observed in fattening pigs). Detailed data relating to intensity of infection of various aged groups of animals by particular parasites are presented in table 2.

Comparing the results of own research (particulary from B farms) and results of research of other authors regarding individual farms, it is necessary to write down a big similarity. Ramisz et al. [7], researching the level of parasites infection in weaners, which were provided to industrial fattening farms by individual farmers, noticed following prevalence of parasites: 71.8% - Oesophagostomum spp., 38.8% - A. suum, and 5.7% - T. suis. Only percentage of pigs infected by Strongyloides ransomi was definitely highest and amount to 43.1%. However Maciołek [5], Tratwal [13] and Surma [12] examinating swine from small-scale management noticed following prevalence of parasites: Oesophagostomum spp. - 47.0%, 94.5% and 66.8%, A. suum - 50.5%, 31.8% and 14.5%, S. ransomi - 0.25%, 16.2% and 21.0% and T. suis - 0%, 3.0% and 1.1%. The results of research get by cited authors, show some trends in forming of parasites infections on small-scale management, which was observed in B farms, too (with the exception of S. ransomi infection).

Infection by coccidia from genus Isospora and Eimeria characterize also similar prevalence, which is observed both in Poland and in Germany in small-scale management, like prevalence noted in own research in animals from farms B. In research of Niestrath et al. [6], Wieczorkowski [15] and Ziomko and Karamon [16], prevalence of coccidia infection fluctuate from 37.5% to 44.0%, in pigs from B farms is a few greatest - 50.0%.

Wertejuk and Urbaniak [14] carrying parasitological examination of effluents from industrial swine farm in Kołbacz, have executed also coproscopic examination of animals. In 19.8% pigs they observed parasitic nematods. This results is very approximated to prevalence of nematods infection (21.4%) observed in animals from A farms in own research. Highly cited authors noted in 13.3% pigs - A. suum, in 4.9% - Oesophagostomum spp. and in 2.8% - T. suis. In own research in pigs from farms A predominated Oesophagostomum spp. infection, A. suum was observed only in 7.1% animals, however whipworm was absent. In A farms were not present also coccidia and S. ransomi, and they are observed in swine from industrial farms in Poland [4, 16]. In available literature is lack of data about complex research relating to intensity of internal parasites infection in pigs. It is proper to remark only, that intensity of Oesophagostomum spp. and A. suum infection in pigs from farms A was small, what together with small prevalence of infection, especially in case of A. suum and lack of coccidia oocysts, makes small threat for natural environment from the point of view of further utilization of effluents [10].

CONCLUSIONS

1. In private farms, which specialize in swine breeding, maintenance of proper zoohygienic conditions is important factor, which can prevent and limit prevalence and intensity of parasites infections.

2. Swine breeding conditions have influence also on occurrence of one- or multi-species parasites infections.

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