Ascaris suum in pigs of the Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Mariana Costa Fausto,Lorendane Millena De Carvalho,Fabrício Luciani Valente,Jackson Victor De Araújo,Guilherme Costa Fausto,Artur Kanadani Campos,Isabela De Castro Oliveira

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612015047

Mariana Costa Fausto, Lorendane Millena De Carvalho + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-29612015047

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Abstract

Among the parasites that affect pigs, Ascaris suum stands out for causing the greatest losses to livestock production systems. This parasite can be monitored during the slaughter of animals through the identification of "milk spots" or white patches on the liver caused by its larval migration. However, infection in the herd is usually subclinical, which is why the presence of this parasite in industrial pig production has been overlooked. The aim of the study was therefore to evaluate the occurrence of milk spots on the liver of animals slaughtered in the micro-region of Ponte Nova in the Zona da Mata - Minas Gerais, Brazil, and to associate these lesions with the time of year, herd size and source of origin of the animals. An evaluation was made of 1,069 lots, totaling 108,073 animals, based on data extracted from the Federal Inspection Service. The animals were slaughtered during the period of January 2011 to June 2013. Out of the total number of slaughtered animals, 10,535 (9.75%) tested positive for these lesions. Therefore, veterinarians and producers should be warned about the inefficiency of the deworming protocols that are used, and the need to develop and/or review control strategies for this parasite in production systems.

Highlights

Dentre os parasitas que acometem os suínos, Ascaris suum destaca-se como o mais impactante nos sistemas de criação
The aim of the study was to evaluate the occurrence of milk spots on the liver of animals slaughtered in the micro-region of Ponte Nova in the Zona da Mata - Minas Gerais, Brazil, and to associate these lesions with the time of year, herd size and source of origin of the animals
The pigs are infected by the fecal-oral route, by ingestion of eggs containing third stage larvae (L3), which are released into the small intestine, migrate to the liver, causing injuries commonly known as “milk spots”

Summary

Introduction

Dentre os parasitas que acometem os suínos, Ascaris suum destaca-se como o mais impactante nos sistemas de criação. The aim of the study was to evaluate the occurrence of milk spots on the liver of animals slaughtered in the micro-region of Ponte Nova in the Zona da Mata - Minas Gerais, Brazil, and to associate these lesions with the time of year, herd size and source of origin of the animals.

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