ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of management systems at intensive high-tech farms and subsistence farms on the prevalence of swine gastrointestinal helminthes in metropolitan Recife and the coastal zone of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. For such, the slaughtering process at three slaughterhouses registered with the state inspection system was followed up between July 2008 to May 2009, totaling 447 pigs from 11 properties (8 high-tech farms and 3 subsistence farms). Fecal samples were collected and the parasitological examinations were carried out using the modified McMaster technique and coproculture for identification of larvae. A questionnaire was administered to determine the management condition of each farm. Strongyloidea eggs were present in 2.5% (11/447) of the pigs, and 0.2% (1/447) were positive for Trichuris sp. Coproculture revealed that 5.5% (19/349) were positive for helminthes, 2.9% (10/349) for Hyostrongylus sp., 0.3% (1/349) for Trichostrongylus sp., 2.0% (7/349) for Oesophagostomum sp., and 0.3% (1/349) with mixed infection by Hyostrongylus and Oesophagostomum sp. The occurrence of helminthes was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with helminth gender, feeding, veterinary care, quarantine, live animal trade, anti-helminth agents, water supply, water treatment, hygiene quality of stalls, dung removal frequency and knowledge regarding worms and milk spots. The percentages of positivity were significantly higher among animals on the subsistence farms.
KEY WORDS
Swine helminthiasis; Oesophagostomum sp.; copro-parasitological examination; slaughterhouse monitoring
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