ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Parasite infections, unlike regulated animal diseases, do not often receive attention. In fact, parasites are major sources of financial losses in pig enterprises, particularly in subsistence and small-scale pig production systems. OBJECTIVE: To identify and quantify the prevalence of ecto- and endo-parasites among peri-urban free-roaming pigs (FRP) in Gert Sibande District Municipality (GSDM), Mpumalanga. METHODS: Pig owners were identified using the snowball sampling method since no sampling frame for FRP farmers exists. Stratified sampling was used to select pigs for sampling for ecto- and endo-parasites. A form was used to record the observations. Pairwise correlation analysis was performed using Stata 15.0. The SPSS V28.0 statistical package was used to perform the chi-square test (X2) to assess the distribution of parasites in different age groups. The prevalence of parasites was assessed in different age groups of pigs using multi-response crosstabs. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to estimate the marginal mean of parasites according to municipality. Statistical significance was assessed at α ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Over 90% (91.2%) of the pigs examined were infested with at least one parasite, including Haematopinus suis, Sarcoptes scabiei, Ascaris suum, Fasciola hepatica, Trichuris suis, Strongylids, Coccidia spp, Moniezia expansa, and Siphonaptera spp. The correlation between Ascaris suum and body condition was weak but statistically significant (r = 0.24; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Policy makers, animal researchers and veterinary services must focus on developing policies, risk communication and community engagement materials, which target pig farmers in peri-urban areas such as Gert Sibande District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province.
ABSTRACT
Reports of large scale mortality of day-old-chicks were received at the National Veterinary Research Institute; Vom; Nigeria in 2007 to 2008. We investigated the cause of death using several virological and bacteriological techniques; isolated the pathogenic agents and carried out sensitivity tests. Our investigation revealed that Escherichia coli and Salmonella organisms were isolated in the outbreaks. A pattern of antibiotic resistance that seems to be increasing was also found. Considering the role of chickens and its products in the human food chain in Nigeria; and the close interaction between poultry and man; these resistant organisms may pose dangers to humans through the food chain or zoonotic infection and precipitate a similar pattern of resistance in man. We advocated for informed use of antibiotics in the food animals; especially poultry