Abstract
A study was conducted between May and August, 2018 to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminths of pigs in Chikun and Jema’a Local Government Areas, Kaduna State. 203 faecal samples were collected, processed and examined under light microscopy. Intestinal helminths recorded were: Ascaris suum (57.1%), Oesophagostomum dentatum (37.0%), Hyostrongylus rubidus (14.8%), Metastrongylus elongates (8.9%), Strongyloides (4.5%), Stepanurus dentatum (2.5%), Trichuris suis(1.5%), Globocephalus urobuslatus (2.0%) and Physocephalus sexalatus (1.5%). The overall prevalence of helminth infection in both LGAs was 71.9%. Pigs in Jema’a LGA had significantly higher prevalence (87.9%) than pigs from Chikun LGA (56.7%). Female pigs had relatively higher (74.4%) infection than male pigs (68.6%). This pattern was also reflected in Chikun LGA where female pigs had a prevalence of 63.9% compared to 46.5% in males, however, the reverse was the case in Jema’a LGA where males had 90.7% prevalence and females 85.7%. In Chikun LGA, the highest prevalence of 58.6% was recorded among pigs aged 25-36 months, followed by pigs aged 5-12 months with prevalence of 57.1%, and the least prevalence of 55.0% was recorded in pigs aged 13-24 months. The prevalence of intestinal helminthosis in pigs tends to decrease with age in Jema’a LGA. The presence of these parasites in pigs examined indicates a potential public health problem in Chikun and Jema’a Local Government Areas of Kaduna state. Enlightenment of pig farmers on the need for periodic veterinary care and restriction of stray pigs through legislation formulation and enforcement are recommended as control measures
Highlights
Pigs are among the abundant livestock potential of Nigeria
Nine types of intestinal helminths were identified, namely; Ascaris suum (57%), Oesophagostomum dentatum (37.0%), Hyostrongylus rubidus (14.8%), Metastrongylus elogatus (8.9%), Stongyloides (4.5%), Stephanurus dentatum (2.5%), Trichuris suis (1.5%), Globocephalus urosubulatus (2.0%) and Physocephalus sexalatus (1.50%) in Chikun and Jema’a Local Government Areas as shown in Table 1.The distribution of the intestinal helminth parasites in sampled pigs in the two LGAs showed that the main parasites detected from the pigs in Chikun LGA were Oesophagostomum dentatum (37.5%), followed by Ascaris suum (32.7%), While in Jema’a LGA, Ascaris suum (82.8%) followed by Oesophagostomum dentatum (36.3%).Significance difference was observed in the detected parasites from the two LGAs (p
It was revealed from the study that the prevalence of intestinal helminths of pig was lower in Chikun local government area (56.7%) than Jema’a local government area (87.9%)
Summary
Pigs are among the abundant livestock potential of Nigeria. The swine Industry has witnessed an unprecedented increase in production and consumption over the past decade; this positive development means an increase in provision of animal protein for human consumption, employment generation, poverty reduction, contributing to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product and general economic growth (Anon, 1999). The diseases are often over looked because clinical symptoms are rarely apparent, losses of production occur mainly from retarded growth, delayed fertility and productivity (Mutual et al, 2007). The most frequently reported parasites in intensive pig farming are Ascaris sum, Trichuris suis, Ascarops strongyla, Balantidium coli and Cryptosporidium spp (Caballero- Hernendez et al,.2004). Helminthic diseases are important but often neglected because clinical symptoms are rarely apparent, losses of production occur mainly from retarded growth and delayed fertility. They constitute a major impediment to efficient and profitable livestock production (FAO, 2000). This study was channelled to investigate gastrointestinal helminthic infections among pigs in the Chikun and Jema’a local government areas of Kaduna state and determine the species prevalence
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