Study on the gastrointestinal and haemoparasites of pigs in zuru township, kebbi state, Nigeria

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal and haemoparasites of pigs in Zuru, Kebbi State. A total of thirty-three (33) and sixty-eight (68) faecal samples from local breeds of pigs under semi-intensive system of management were collected and processed for GIT helminths and protozoa respectively. Fifty (50) blood samples were collected for haemoparasites. Faecal concentration methods of simple floatation and centrifugal sedimentation methods were used to analyze the faecal samples while Wet mount, Buffy coat and Thin smear techniques were used for the blood samples. In overall, eight (8) samples out of thirty-three (33) were positive for strongyle eggs given a prevalence of 24.25%. Fifteen (15) of the samples (45.45%) were from the male animals, with an observed prevalence of 26.67% while eighteen 18 (54.54%) were from the female animals, having a percentage prevalence of 22.22%. From the 31 samples collected and processed from adult pigs, 8(25.8%) were found positive while from the only 2 samples collected and examined from the young pigs (piglets), none was observed to be positive for any form of the parasites. An overall prevalence rate of 17.65% for only one gastrointestinal protozoan parasite (Eimeria) was encountered. However, the prevalence rate of Eimeria was significantly higher in female pigs (18.92%) compared to the male pigs (16.13%) and prevalence was significantly higher in adult pigs (22.22%) while the young piglets showed no infection. Samples from the blood revealed no haemoparasites in all the samples processed. Based on the present findings, it was concluded that gastrointestinal helminthes, especially strongyle and Eimeria spp. infections occur in pigs in Zuru, Kebbi State. Although, there was no recorded prevalence of haemoparasites in the pigs examined, there could be several other factors that were responsible for the negative results obtained in the present study. It was therefore recommended that further studies should be repeated to ascertain the true picture of the conditions in all the sampled pigs.