Parasites burden in peri-urban free-roaming pigs in Gert Sibande District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Authors

Keywords:

gastro-intestinal parasites, ecto-parasites, free-roaming pigs, diseases, zoonosis

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.

Method: 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.

Author Biographies

  • P Munzhelele, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land Administration and Environmental Affairs

    Nooitgedacht Research Station, Animal Research, Non-ruminant Sub-directorate, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land Administration and Environmental Affairs, and Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, University of South Africa, South Africa

  • NPS Sibeko, Mpumalanga Provincial Veterinary Laboratory

    Parasitology Unit, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, Mpumalanga Provincial Veterinary Laboratory, South Africa

  • JW Oguttu, University of South Africa

    Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, University of South Africa, South Africa

  • CA Mbajiorgu, University of South Africa

    Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, University of South Africa, South Africa

  • FO Fasina, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Italy and Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa

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Published

2024-03-13

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Section

Original Research