THE PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PROTOZOA IN WILD AND DOMESTIC PIGS

We examined faecal samples from 842 domestic and 91 wild pigs in order to record the prevalence of intestinal protozoa. We used staining of faecal smears by Noller-Westphal-Gonnert method, cultivation in modifi ed LES broth and microscopical examination of native preparations usin g small magnification (for detection of Balantidium coli). Moreover, t he faeces from wild pigs were examined by flotation in Sheather's suga r solution for detection of coccidia. We found 8 coccidian species in the wild pigs. Except sucking piglets, high prevalence of B. coli, Ent amoeba polecki, Iodamoeba sp. and Tritrichomonas suis was noticed in a ll categories of animals. On the other hand, only sporadic occurrence of Chilomastix sp. was recorded. The intensity of infections by differ ent protozoa was variable in all categories of animals. It is not sure whether Chilomastix sp. and lodamoeba sp. are identical with the spec ies known from the intestine of humans and that is why their epidemiol ogical importance is not clear.