Prevalence and risk factors associated with swine gastrointestinal nematodes and coccidia in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil

• Published in: Tropical animal health and production Vol. 52; no. 1; pp. 379 - 385
• Main Authors: de Araújo, Hosaneide Gomes, da Silva, Juliana Trajano, Álvares, Felipe Boniedj Ventura, Ferreira, Larissa Claudino, Azevedo, Sérgio Santos, Vilela, Vinícius Longo Ribeiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Arid regions; Arid zones; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Coccidia; Eggs; Endoparasites; Epidemiology; Family farms; Farmers; Farms; Hogs; Intestinal parasites; Life Sciences; Nematodes; Oocysts; Parasites; Regular Articles; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Semi arid areas; Semiarid lands; Swine; Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science; Zoology; Brazil; Nematodes; Coccidia; Semi-arid; Swine culture; Strongyloides
• ISSN: 0049-4747; 1573-7438
• DOI: 10.1007/s11250-019-02032-8

In northeastern Brazil, with has a predominantly dry climate, farmers seek alternative sources of income and livelihood by the rearing pigs. The gastrointestinal parasites that affect these animals represent an obstacle in the production and can cause significant economic loss. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with gastrointestinal nematodes and Coccidia in swine herds in the Sousa microregion, Paraíba state, northeastern Brazil. This was a cross-sectional study, and the sampling was designed to determine the prevalence of endoparasite-positive farms and pigs. We randomly selected 51 farms and 187 pigs. Fecal samples were collected from each animal, and eggs per gram and oocysts per gram feces were recorded. The data collected in the epidemiological questionnaires were used to determine the possible risk factors associated with endoparasite-positive animal status. The prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes and Coccidia in the pigs was 79.5% (149/187). Coccidia were the most prevalent parasite found, with 56.6% (106/187) of the pigs testing positive, followed by nematodes 22.9% (43/187). Strongylidae was the most common nematodes found (67.5%, 29/43), followed by
Trichuris
sp. (30.2%, 13/43) and
Ascaris
sp. (2.3%, 1/43). In 29 coprocultures, Strongylidae was identified:
Oesophagostomum
(82.2%, 25/29),
Strongyloides
(62.0%, 18/29), and
Hyostrongylus
(27.5%, 8/29). Mixed nematode and coccidial infection were observed in 72.4% (21/29) of the samples. Relevant risk factors were related to the type of management adopted by family farmers. Changes in management measures could improve the health profile of farms.