Helminthosis in local and cross-bred pigs in the Morogoro region of Tanzania
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Elsevier
Abstract
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We investigated the prevalence, burden and types of gastro-intestinal helminths in 424 local
and cross-bred pigs kept under different management systems in two climatic zones in the
Morogoro region of Tanzania. Coprological examination revealed that 53% of the pigs excreted
hehninth eggs in their faeces. The median eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) was 500 (range
100-22000). Local breeds in the Mgeta location with tropical highland climate showed signifi-
cantly higher prevalence (P < 0.001) and median EPG values ( P < 0.001) than the cross-bred
animals in the semi-arid area. There was no significant difference in the prevalence (P = 0.90) of
helminth infection and egg outputs (P = 0.78) in cross-bred pigs raised under the small-scale and
semi-mtensive
management systems in the semi-arid zone. Piglets showed significantly lower
prevalence of helminthosis (P < 0.001) than the weaners, growers and adults in both local and
cross-bred animals. Median EPGs of growers and adult animals were significantly higher than
those of piglets and weaners (P = 0.006). The prevalences of various hehninth species were
Oesophagostomum
sp. (40%), Ascaris suum (12%), Strongy loides ransomi (9% ) and Trichuris
suis (St% ). 0 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.
Keywords
Pigs, Helminthosis, Prevalence, Burden