Gastrointestinal parasites of swine under small scale management in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Diseases constitute a major impediment to efficient and profitable livestock production of swine in Nigeria. This cross-sectional study was undertaken in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of swine under small scale management in relation to age, sex, location and hygiene level of the breeding environment. Each piggery owner was administered a structured questionnaire to collect information on the age, sex and hygienic level of the piggeries. Using the concentration technique (flotation) to process the faeces, a total of 250 faecal samples from pigs (139 boars and 111 sows) were examined. Of the 250 faecal samples, 187 (74.8%) were infected with various gastrointestinal parasites. Sows and boars had similar prevalence (75.6% vs 74.1%) with no significant difference (x² =0.08, p=0.13). The age- distribution of the gastrointestinal parasites showed no significant difference (x² = 9.43, p=1.16), with the age-group 12-22 weeks having the highest prevalence (77.0%) and the age group
>22 weeks having the lowest (50.0%). With regards to location, pigs reared in Wadata recorded the highest prevalence of infection (79.2%) with no significant difference (x² =0.95, p=0.18). Ascaris suum was the most predominant parasite with 34.4%, while Stephanurus dentatus and Hyostrongylus tubidus recorded the lowest prevalence with 2.4% each. Prevalence in relation to hygiene level of the breeding environment showed that swine reared in dirty environment recorded the highest prevalence with 96.0% though no significant difference was observed between breeding environments (x²= 6.21; p= 0.95). It is advocated that swine rearers should be educated and advised by professional on the essence of effective routine anthelminthic deworming programme.

Keywords: swine, gastrointestinal, scale, management, parasites