Livestock research for rural development, 2015; 27 (1)
This cross sectional study was conducted in Arusha city in March 2014 to establish the prevalence and
intensity of different gastrointestinal parasites in different parts of intestines of slaughter pigs at
Sanawari slaughter slab in Arusha. A total of 300 intestinal contents were collected from 100 slaughter
pigs. Pig origins, sex, age and management systems were gathered from owners before the animal was
slaughtered.
It was found that majority (78%) of slaughter pigs came from Mbulu, were male (56%), adult (86%) and
were extensively managed (78%). Parasitic infection was observed in 83% of slaughter pigs and
two types of parasites recorded namely helminths (79.0%) and coccidia (19.0%). The common helminth
identified was the group of Strongyles (52.0%). Other species included Ascaris spp.
(37.0%), Strongyloides spp. (15.0%), Trichuris spp. (5.0%) and Metastrongylus spp. (4.0%). Sixteen pigs
had adult worms identified as Ascaris suum. Parasite eggs/oocysts recovery rate was higher (P =
0.002) in large intestine (59.0%) than small intestine (41.0%) and caecum (31.0). Similarly, infection
by Strongyles was higher (52.0%) than the rest of helminths (P = 0.001). Mean EPG of 1083 ± 1031 and
OPG of 664 ± 496 were recorded. Large intestine had higher mean EPG counts (768 ± 631) than small
intestine and caecum (P < 0.05). Similarly, there was a statistically significant higher (P < 0.05) count
of Strongyles eggs in large intestine compared to small intestine and caecum. It was concluded that
slaughter pig in Arusha had high infection of gastrointestinal parasite that reflect the status of infection
in other animals at the farms. Therefore, to improve pig production, routine gastrointestinal parasite
control is recommended.
Tanzania through Higher Education Students’ Loan Board (HESLB)