Prevalence and risk factors of gastrointestinal parasites in backyard pigs reared in the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area, Colombia / Prevalência e fatores de risco de parasitos gastrointestinais em suínos criados na Área Metropolitana de Bucaramanga, Colombia

Abstract Backyard pigs have been associated with poor sanitary conditions and the development of parasitic diseases, often causing public health and food safety problems. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for gastrointestinal parasites in backyard pigs. 279 animals were sampled from thirty-two backyard pig farms located in the Bucaramanga, Floridablanca, Giron and Piedecuesta municipalities, from Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area, Colombia. Fecal samples were taken directly from the rectum and processed by four coprological techniques. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 91%, being the highest values for Balantidium coli and Eimeria sp. Regarding the prevalence by municipalities, there was no statistical association (p ≥ 0.05) indicating that the prevalence was similar in the region under study. Floridablanca municipality, free-ranging pigs, access to latrines, and consumption of spring water showed to be a risk factor for nematodes, while Giron municipality, pigs > 7 months of age and access to latrines, increased infection risk for coccidian. We concluded that there is a high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in backyard pigs from the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area, and that it could be controlled by improving management practices and farm facilities.

Resumo Suínos criados em fundo de quintal têm sido associados às más condições sanitárias e ao desenvolvimento de doenças parasitárias, frequentemente causando problemas de saúde pública e segurança alimentar. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a prevalência e os fatores de risco para parasitos gastrointestinais em suínos criados em fundo de quintal. Foram amostrados 279 animais de 32 fazendas de suínos localizadas nos municípios de Bucaramanga, Floridablanca, Giron e Piedecuesta, da Área Metropolitana de Bucaramanga, Colômbia. As amostras fecais foram coletadas diretamente do reto e processadas por quatro técnicas coprológicas. A prevalência geral de parasitos gastrintestinais foi de 91%, sendo os maiores valores para Balantidium coli e Eimeria sp. Em relação à prevalência por municípios, não houve associação estatística (p≥ 0,05), indicando que a prevalência foi semelhante na região estudada. O município de Floridablanca, porcos caipiras, acesso a latrinas e consumo de água da nascente mostraram ser um fator de risco para os nematoides enquanto no município de Giron, porcos com mais de 7 meses de idade e acesso a latrinas, aumentou o risco de infecção por coccídios. Concluiu-se que há uma alta prevalência de parasitos gastrointestinais em suínos criados em fundo de quintal da Área Metropolitana de Bucaramanga, e que isso poderia ser controlado melhorando as práticas de manejo e as instalações agrícolas.

Helminthiasis in School Aged Children in a Select Population in the Niger Delta.

Aim: Helminthiasis and its effects on the hematological parameters of school aged children in a select population in the Niger Delta. Study Design: A cross sectional study (Descriptive study). Place and Duration: The study was carried out in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, between January–April 2011. Methodology: Concentration Method (Sedimentation) was used to examine the stool samples, Packed cell volume (PCV) was obtained by the use of hematocrit centrifugation and reader method; differential white blood count (WBC) was done according to Cheesbrough (2000). Results: Result of the study showed variability in the four gastrol-intestinal helminths among the 360 pupils investigated. Out of the 264(73.3%) positive samples, 142(53.7%) and 122(46.21%) were females and males respectively. Age specific gastroi intestinal worm load was relatively high in all age groups. This pattern of infection was attributed to favorable ecological factors that promote helminths transmission in the study area. However, the overall age related worm load showed that the 5-7 age group had relatively the highest parasite load in the study. The weight and height of infected pupils in relation to the uninfected varied statistically (p<0.05) across the age ranges but was not statistically different (p>0.05) within the age groups. A. lumbricoides (53.3%) was the most prevalent helminth amongst the infected. Conclusion: Overall mixed infection was (23.4%) while the 8-9 age range recorded the highest prevalence (28.2%). Sex related prevalence varied greatly in terms of percentage infection within and across the sexes. However, gastrointestinal parasitism was not significantly different (p>0.05) within the age groups but was significantly different (p<0.05) between the sexes. PCV values were below the normal range in both the infected uninfected in the study group indicating poor nutritional status of the population.