Faecal Egg Counts and Associated Risk Factors of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Pigs Reared in Urban and Semi-Urban Areas of Maseru District, Lesotho
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ijvmas.v3i1.7323Keywords:
Coccidia, Faecal Egg Count, Gastrointestinal Parasites, Nematodes, PigsAbstract
Gastrointestinal parasites are among the major constraints limiting pig productivity worldwide through reduced growth, poor feed efficiency, and increased economic losses. In Lesotho, information regarding the burden of gastrointestinal parasites in pigs remains limited despite the growing importance of pig production. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess faecal egg counts of gastrointestinal parasites and determine associated risk factors in pigs reared under urban and semi-urban production systems in Maseru District, Lesotho. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 100 pigs sampled from 50 farms located in urban and semi-urban regions. Faecal samples were collected and examined using the McMaster flotation technique to determine eggs per gram of faeces and identify parasite groups. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Parasite prevalence was calculated, and binary logistic regression within generalized estimating equations was used to evaluate the effects of region, age, sex, and breed on parasite infection. The results revealed that nematodes and coccidia were the predominant gastrointestinal parasites, while cestodes occurred at low levels. Faecal egg counts of nematodes and coccidia were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in pigs from semi-urban regions than those from urban regions. Female pigs also exhibited significantly higher infection levels than males (p ≤0.05), whereas age and breed had no significant effect on parasite burden (p ≥0.05). The study concludes that gastrointestinal parasitism is prevalent among pigs in Maseru District, with region and sex being important determinants of infection levels. Improved husbandry practices, farmer education, biosecurity measures, and targeted parasite control programs are recommended to reduce parasite burdens and enhance pig productivity. training, and biosecurity improvements to mitigate productivity losses in pig production.
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