A. Joachim et al., Occurrence of helminths in pig fattening units with different management systems in Northern Germany, VET PARASIT, 96(2), 2001, pp. 135-146
The helminth infections an 13 pig fattening farms with different management
systems (complete or partial all-in-all-out system or continuous fattening
) in North-Western Germany were investigated over at least three fattening
periods. Pooled faecal samples were taken from pens once before and three t
imes after anthelmintic treatment. At the beginning of fattening 34.9% of t
he samples contained helminth eggs, mainly from Oesophagostomum spp. (27.5%
). Ascaris suum eggs were found in 10.5% of the samples, while other parasi
tes were only rarely found. The number of pig-supplying farms was positivel
y correlated with the helminth infection prevalence. Immediately after dewo
rming, all pen samples were free of helminth eggs, However, the prevalences
increased again, and by the end of fattening A. suum was found in 33.0% an
d strongylids in 6.0% of the samples. Pens harbouring A. suum-excreting pig
s at the beginning of fattening had higher infection levels at the end, and
this was also the case for nodular worms. The final prevalence of Ascaris
was higher in partial exchange systems than in complete all-in-all-out syst
ems and in old pig houses compared to new ones. Transmission of both Ascari
s and Oesophagostomum was highest in autumn and winter. Thus, a single anth
elmintic treatment at the beginning of fattening could not prevent infectio
n during fattening, and the state of infection at the beginning was associa
ted with the helminth burden at slaughter. Therefore, the purchase of paras
ite-free pigs in combination with appropriate hygiene management may minimi
se the initial infection pressure and keep subsequent infection of the herd
at a minimum. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.