title: Disease behaviours of sows naturally infected with Taenia solium in Tanzania.
abstract: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a disease caused by the zoonotic parasite Taenia solium lodging in the central nervous system. Both humans and pigs can get NCC. The impact of the disease in pigs has so far been little explored. The aim of this study was to describe the effect of NCC on social and feeding behaviours as well as the pattern of activity as indicators of reduced welfare in naturally infected sows. In total 13 T. solium naturally infected and 15 non-infected control sows were videotaped for 2 consecutive weeks using close circuit television cameras at research facilities at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania. Videos were analysed at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the 2 week recording period. For each time point, videos were analysed during feeding, while the enrichment was provided, and by recording every half an hour the sows' behaviours performed over the course of a whole day. Sows with NCC spent significantly less time at the feeding trough, especially during the second half of the feeding period. Infected sows were also more passive e.g. lying and standing still significantly more during a whole day period and showed social isolation compared to non-infected control sows by performing behaviours more distant to their nearest neighbour. Results of this study indicated that NCC changed the behaviour of infected sows. The behavioural changes are indicative of decreased welfare. Efforts to reinforce the animal welfare aspect are needed as this has so far been neglected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. Electronic address: Chiara@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trevisan
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. Electronic address: mvj@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Maria Vang
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3021, Morogoro, Tanzania. Electronic address: emkupasi@suanet.ac.tz.
authors.forename: Ernatus Martin
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mkupasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3021, Morogoro, Tanzania. Electronic address: helenangowi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Helena Aminel
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ngowi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 8, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. Electronic address: bjf@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Forkman
mesh_terms: D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012919:Social Behavior; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D041201:Taenia solium / Q000502:physiology*; D013636:Tanzania; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: Animal welfare; Burden of disease; Pigs; Sickness behaviour; Sub-Saharan Africa; Taenia solium cysticercosis