Pig Diseases in Papua Province, Indonesia: Aetiology, Eco-epidemiology and Control Options

Abstract

Pigs are an important commodity for Papuans, culturally and economically, but diseases and high pig mortality hamper production. The purpose of this review is to describe the ecology and epidemiology of pig diseases prevalent in Papua and to propose control options that may be suitable for the Papuan situation. The review was conducted using published papers on pig production and diseases in Papua, government documentation and published papers on related diseases from other locations. We determined that the major pig pathogens in Papua are Classical Swine fever (CSF), porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), Trichuris suis, strongyle parasites and Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Farmers’ knowledge of pig diseases is low; hence the role of local government in control measures is pivotal. Control approaches should involve pig confinement as a prerequisite. Vaccination against CSF and parasite control, when indicated, should be part of routine control measures for confined pigs. Education of farmers is an important part of any control program and needs to focus on good farming practices such as the aforementioned confinement, appropriate feeds and feeding, sanitation, recognition of the clinical signs and major pathology of pig diseases, and the reporting of disease to local veterinary services. The ecology and epidemiology of pig diseases in Papua are still largely not understood. Future studies should be aimed at the evaluation of the proposed methods of disease control, an understanding of the impact of PCV2 infection on pig production in Papua and the role of the movement of pig products into and among regions in Papua in regard to CSF and PCV2 viral transmission as well as investigations of other underdiagnosed yet important pig diseases, such as PRRS, H1N1 influenza and toxoplasmosis.