PREVALENCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL AND HAEMOPARASITES OF PIGS SLAUGHTERED IN SOME ABATTOIRS IN MAKURDI, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal and haemoparasites of pigs slaughtered
in six abattoirs in Makurdi, Benue State. One hundred blood and 550 faecal samples were collected from 650 pigs
and analyzed using floatation technique and thin blood smear for faecal and blood samples respectively. Results
showed that 6.0% pigs tested positive for haemoparasites and 56.3% pigs were infected with gastrointestinal
parasites. Nine parasites were recorded in the study which included seven gastrointestinal parasites: Ascaris suum
158(24.3%), Strongyloides ransomi 66(10.2%), Oesophagostomum spp 35(5.4%), Trichuris suis 30(4.6%),
Taenia solium 13(2.0%), Fasciolopsis buski 2(0.3%) and Girdia lamblia 1(0.2%); and two haemoparasites:
Babesia species 10(1.5%) and Mycoplasma spp 27(4.2%). In both gastrointestinal and haemoparasites prevalence,
no significant difference was observed in relation to sex, (P > 0.05). The highest prevalence for single and mixed
infection with helminths was recorded within the age group of 1-6 months (76.5%) and 25 – 30 months (16.7%),
respectively. Also, ages 19 – 24 months had the most single (41.5%) and mixed (3.1%) infections with
haemoparasites. Wadata abattoir had the highest infection rate but the difference in prevalence based on location
was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The prevalence of helminth parasites of pigs recorded in the study calls
for collaborative efforts of human and veterinary health officers to prevent zoonosis.