Ascaris suum in pigs of the Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais State, Brazil.
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.
Departamento de Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Viçosa, MG, BR.
Mariana Costa
MC
Fausto
Departamento de Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Viçosa, MG, BR.
Isabela de Castro
Ide C
Oliveira
Departamento de Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Viçosa, MG, BR.
Guilherme Costa
GC
Fausto
Departamento de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, BR.
Lorendane Millena de
LM
Carvalho
Departamento de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, BR.
Fabrício Luciani
FL
Valente
Departamento de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, BR.
Artur Kanadani
AK
Campos
Departamento de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, BR.
Jackson Victor de
JV
Araújo
D000818:Animals; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017165:Ascaris suum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000469:parasitology*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*