Helminthosis in local and cross-bred pigs in the Morogoro region of Tanzania

• DOI: 10.1016/s0167-5877(97)00011-1
• Publication Date: 2003-05-13T04:46:17Z
• Authors: K. Esrony; D.M. Kambarage; M.M.A. Mtambo; A.P. Muhairwa; L.J.M. Kusiluka
• Keywords: Swine Diseases; 2. Zero hunger; 0303 health sciences; Swine; Climate; Tanzania; 3. Good health; Feces; 03 medical and health sciences; Prevalence; Animals; Helminthiasis, Animal

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 helminth eggs in their faeces. The median eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) was 500 (range 100-22,000). Local breeds in the Mgeta location with tropical highland climate showed significantly 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-intensive 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 helminth species were Oesophagostomum sp. (40%), Ascaris suum (12%), Strongyloides ransomi (9%) and Trichuris suis (5%).