PREVALENCE OF PARASITES IN EXOTIC SUIS-LARGE WHITE ( SUIDAE ) SLAUGHTERED IN A TROPICAL URBAN ABATTOIR

EYO J.E.1*, ECHI P.C.1, ATAMA C.I.1, ONYISHI G.C.1, EKEH F.N.1, IVOKE N.1, NWANI C.D.1, OBITTE B.C.1 AND ONOJA U.S.2 1Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. 2Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. *Corresponding Author: Emailjoseph.eyo@unn.edu.ng

were examined for ectoparasites. Ectoparasites amassed were preserved in 2% formol-alcohol, examined under a stereo microscope and identified [20,21]. From each animal, thick and thin blood smears were made, fixed in methyl alcohol and stained in 10% Giemsa. Slides were observed at x100 magnification and blood parasites identified [6,7]. Fecal samples from all the pigs were examined for gastrointestinal helminths using filtration and sedimentation method. All recovered helminths were processed and identified [1,[21][22][23]. Percentage incidence and prevalence were calculated using the following formulae: % Incidence = x/n x 100 (x is the number of pigs infected per given age or sex and n is the total number of pigs sampled within the particular age or sex); % Prevalence = y/ n x 100 (y is the number of pigs infected and n is the total number of pigs examined).

Results
Nine different parasites were recovered from the examined pigs. These included the ectoparasites: Sarcoptes suis and Haematopinus suis, and the endoparasites: Strongyloides ransomi, Eimeria sp and Ascaris suum. Haemoparasites recorded were Trypanosoma brucei, T. congolense, Babesia trautmanni and B. perroncitoi. The overall incidence rate of endoparasites was characteristically high. Strongyloides ransomi had the highest incidence rate (142.60%) followed by Eimeria sp (135.00%) whereas Ascaris suum had the least (104.30%) [ Table-1]. The age-wise incidence of endoparasites indicated that 4-6 months old pigs had highest incidence of S. ransomi (70.00%), 7-9 months old pigs had highest incidence of Eimeria sp (50.0%) and above 9 months old pigs had more A. suum (37.50%) [ The age incidence rate of ectoparasites indicated that 4-6 months old pigs had 100% S. suis incidence while 7-9 months pigs had 33.90% S. suis and above 9 months old pigs had 12.50% S. suis . Comparatively, H. suis incidences were low for all age groups being 30% in 4-6; 3.60% in 7-9 and 4.2% in above 9 months aged pigs. The overall age prevalence rate of ectoparasites was higher for S. suis (35.50%) than H. suis (6.60%) [ Key: A-C = number of pigs infected per parasite for a given age; Inc = % incidence The age incidence of haemoparasites indicated that B. trautmanni were more in the above 9 months pigs (45.83%), while B. perroncitoi were more in the 7-9 months pigs (36.61%). Furthermore, the age incidence of haemoparasites equally indicated that T.

Discussion
Although Haematopinus suis was recovered, the major haemoparasite that it transmits-Eperythrozoon sp was not found in the blood of the pigs. The infection would spread if there is introduction of reservoir hosts by whatever means in Nsukka area. Age group 7-9 months was mostly affected by the various parasites except in the infection of H. suis which had most infection among those between 4-6 months. High prevalence of infection in all except in H. suis indicates poor environmental conditions and treatments. Most commercial and subsistence farms pay inadequate attention to hygiene. Obvious ulcerated skins should have been eliminated by applying drugs of choice and general treatments of the wounds to avoid probable secondary infection of bacteria, mycoplasma and viruses [24,25]. Ectoparasites such as H. suis and S. suis among other things cause irritation and itching, making the animal restless and not feeding properly thus leading to weight loss [20,26]. Also, T. brucei and T. congolense which have been reported in pigs from other parts of Nigeria and African countries were found in Nsukka pigs because palpalis group of Glossina i.e. Glossina tachinoides and Glossina palpalis, the usual vectors are found in Nsukka area [27]. Furthermore, earlier study from Nigeria had reported the prevalence of both B. trautmanni and B. perroncitoi in pigs [5]. The high prevalence of Babesia haemoparasites in this study is in agreement with Kahn [28] who reported that Babesia trautmanni has been recorded as causing severe disease in pigs in Europe and Africa. He further reported that another species Babesia perroncitoi is of similar pathogenicity but apparently has a limited distribution in areas mentioned above. The points of attachments of the ectoparasites were ulcerated; usually these points serve as entry points for bacteria and viruses. Also it affects the marketability of pigs and its acceptance as a source of protein. Eimeria sp is an intracellular coccidian parasite which causes coccidiosis i.e. harmful damage to the epithelial cells of pigs' intestine [29,30]. Parasites have been associated with pigs in many parts of Nigeria and the world at large. Some of the studies showed similarities in the types of parasites recovered [1,7,25,31], high prevalence to infection [6,14,32] and intensity [10,11,16,33]. Generally in Nigerian piggery management systems, pigs are often semi-intensively managed and this dangerously exposes them to parasitic infections. Older pigs (above 9 months) were less infected than younger ones (4-7 months). This could arise from acquisition of immunity due pre-exposure to these parasites and molecular associations unlike younger ones during the course of their lives. Gastrointestinal parasites are acquired through tropic relationships as a result of poor environmental conditions [34]. For instance, A. suum is the most common parasite in modern piggery operations with approximately 70-80 % of pigs infected. A single female can lay up to one million eggs per day. These eggs can remain viable in the environment for up to thirty years. This parasite is also the largest one measuring in length more than eight inches during the adult form. The adult inhabits the small intestine where it swims against the flow of the intestinal contents. They sometimes migrate into the pigs' stomach where they cause the host to vomit both the feed and worms. In the host intestine, these worms compete for nutrients which leads to diminished growth, disease and economic losses [25,35]. Due to lack of circular muscles in nematodes, conventional contraction and relaxation of muscles is not achieved so resultant thrusting movements of these worms cause damages to the internal organs. This causes white scar lesions which predispose the hosts to infectious agents such as mycoplasmal bacterial and viral infections.

Conclusion
Nine different parasites were recorded from the examined pigs. These were ectoparasites: Sarcoptes suis and Haematopinus suis, and the endoparasites: Strongyloides ransomi, Eimeria sp and Ascaris suum. Haemoparasites were Trypanosoma brucei, T. congolense, Babesia trautmanni and B. perroncitoi. All the parasites are of public health importance. Pig farmers are to frequently deworm their pigs and maintain high management practices like raising pig in insect free/screen stall, regular veterinary screening of pigs for parasites and treatment of infected pigs. Furthermore, since this is of a public health concern, meat inspectors should ensure that infected pigs are not sold to consumers.
Author's Contribution JEE conceived the study and developed the study protocols. PCE, BCO, CIA and NI supported field operations and data collection. FNE, CDN and GCO performed literature search and data analysis. JEE and USO wrote the drafted the manuscript. The final manuscript has been read and approved for publication by all the authors.