title: Helminthosis in local and cross-bred pigs in the Morogoro region of Tanzania.
abstract: We investigated the prevalence, burden and types of gastro-intestinal helminths in 424 local and cross-bred pigs kept under different management systems in two climatic zones in the Morogoro region of Tanzania. Coprological examination revealed that 53% of the pigs excreted helminth eggs in their faeces. The median eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) was 500 (range 100-22,000). Local breeds in the Mgeta location with tropical highland climate showed significantly higher prevalence (P < 0.001) and median EPG values (P < 0.001) than the cross-bred animals in the semi-arid area. There was no significant difference in the prevalence (P = 0.90) of helminth infection and egg outputs (P = 0.78) in cross-bred pigs raised under the small-scale and semi-intensive management systems in the semi-arid zone. Piglets showed significantly lower prevalence of helminthosis (P < 0.001) than the weaners, growers and adults in both local and cross-bred animals. Median EPGs of growers and adult animals were significantly higher than those of piglets and weaners (P = 0.006). The prevalences of various helminth species were Oesophagostomum sp. (40%), Ascaris suum (12%), Strongyloides ransomi (9%) and Trichuris suis (5%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Esrony
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kambarage
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mtambo
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Muhairwa
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Kusiluka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002980:Climate; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D015995:Prevalence; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology