INTESTINAL PARASITES IN PIG FARMING

By Sherebiah Kangwa

INTESTINAL parasites are parasitic worms known as helminth that primarily inhabit the intestines and Gastrointestinal (GI) tract.                              

Worms are one of the most serious threats to pig farming; there are more than 30types affecting the intestines. The most important of these are the intestinal roundworm, the lung worm, the kidney worm, the stomach worm and the tape worm.

Infection occurs when the worms’ eggs are eaten while the pig forages for food; the eggs cannot be seen with the naked eye and are present in the soil, in the dung of worm-infested pigs, in the vegetation at the bottom of ditches, wherever pigs are found.

Roundworms

Most pigs have Ascaris infections during their lifetimes. These roundworms are usually found in greatest numbers in pigs up to 2 to 3 months of age with a few in older pigs. Sows usually are not clinically affected, but serve as carriers.

Round worms are long (6 to 12 inches), stout, pinkish worms, sometimes with curved tails. The adults live in the small intestine, grazing on the gut lining and ingesting particulate and liquid materials from digesting food.

Tape worms

Tape worms are flat and long ribbon like creatures which are common in all parts of the world. Tapeworms do not have a digestive system so they receive their food through their skin as they absorb our nutrients.

They especially absorb folic acid and vitamin B-12. These parasites may cause what is referred to as “verminous intoxication” as they put out and leave dangerous waste products in our bodies. These tapeworms can roll themselves into a ball and can be felt on the right side of the abdomen under the liver.

Pork measles

Pork measles is caused by tapeworms which live in the muscles of pigs. They do not usually affect the pig, but can lead to pain and the pig may find it difficult to move around. When people eat undercooked measly pork, the worms develop inside people causing epilepsy and can make them very sick.  

CLINICAL SIGNS

·        Difficulty breathing, sometimes called “thumps”

·        Poor performance of pigs with low growth rate and weight lossin later stages.

·        Possibly passing whole worms in manure.

·         Anorexia in advancedstages.

·         Anaemia loss ofcondition.

·         When the worms diesuddenly after treatment, they can block the gut and cause sudden death.

·        Rough grey hair coat and swollen belly.

Prevention

·        To prevent the young piglets from being infected directly after birth, the sow should be dewormed about 10 days before delivering. A few days later wash the sow with soap in order to remove worm eggs from the skin.

·        Parasite control should include good sanitation.

·        Good nutrition is critical to the pig's ability to mount animmune response and maintain performance in the presence of parasites.

·        Since roundworms and whipworms have transmissible eggs,indoor facilities need to be well-cleaned and traffic minimized.

·        Gilts should be kept off of contaminated lots, and weaned pigs kept away from older breeding stock.

Treatment

Deworming specific strategic schedules should be arranged with your veterinarian. These include Ivermece in, fenbendazole, levamisole and piperazine.

Boars- every 6 months

Sows- 2 weeks before farrowing and after weaning

Piglets- 1 week after weaning

Fatteners- 1 week after weaning and 3 months latter

Gilts- 1 week after weaning, 3 months and at 7 months of age at least 2 weeks beforeservice

Sherebiah Kangwa is a qualified veterinarian from Natural Resources Development College (NRDC). He is based in Lusaka’s !0 miles. For more details get in touch with him on 0975 250 184 or What’s up him on this same line.

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