Abstract
ABSTRACT Gastrointestinal parasites are important, since they can cause a decrese in the performance of swine. The occurrence of parasites in pig farms can create economic losses such as reduction in the value of carcasses and increasing expenses with medicines and veterinary assistance. This study aimed at investigating the occurrence of intestinal parasites in different phases of production reared pigs in intensive prodution systems in the western region of the State of Santa Catarina. A total of 403 fecal samples were analyzed, of which 51.86% were positive for one or more parasites in different phases of production. Finishing pigs had the highest prevalence of parasites (60.19%) followed by nursery pigs (55.44%), pigs in breading sows (50.49%), and suckling piglets (40.81%). Strongylida parasites had higher occurrence (28.78%), and were also the most frequent in the finishing, breading sows, and nursery phases. Coccidia were more occurrent in suckling piglets. This study highlights the need of implementing suitable antiparasitic control measures in all phases of swine production associated with a surveillance system for the diagnosis of endoparasite infection in pigs. Our results demonstrate that endoparasites are highly occurring in pigs, even in intensive system animals on technified farms.
Highlights
Pig farming is a competitive and highly technified activity
Bacterial and viral diseases are the subject of much debate and parasitic diseases are not considered by every producer as a cause of economic losses in pig
Based on the lack of information in the literature for current swine production systems, especially in the state of Santa Catarina, south Brazil, a state which is considered an important pork producer in the country, the present study aimed to identify the most common gastrointestinal parasites in the different phases of production in an intensive pig production system
Summary
Pig farming is a competitive and highly technified activity. It faces challenges such as sanitary problems. Bacterial and viral diseases are the subject of much debate and parasitic diseases are not considered by every producer as a cause of economic losses in pig. Despite the mainly subclinical infections, every producer should be aware of their presence and the resulting losses (Mundt et al, 2006; Ózsvári, 2018). In animals affected by gastrointestinal parasites, losses in performance may occur, mainly because they favor the occurrence of secondary infections by opportunistic pathogens (Linhares et al, 2012). The economic losses associated with endoparasitic infections are due to reduction in feed efficiency, low number of piglets born, low weight of the offspring, low weight at weaning, reduced fertility, and interference in the immune response to vaccines (Steehard et al, 2009; Barbosa et al, 2015)
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