| dc.description.abstract | Parasitism is the most serious constraint causing continuous ill-health
and lowered productivity in livestock in Tanzania and sub-Saharan Africa as a
whole. This study was carried out in urban and peri-urban areas ofMwanza city
and aimed to determine the prevalence ofparasitic infections in pigs kept by small
holder livestock keepers. A random sample of14 urban farmers with a total of213
pigs and 14 peri-urban farmers with a total of155 pigs were selected. Faecal
samples were collected from each pig. Ectoparasites were examined and their
morphological characteristics recorded. Direct smear floatation and sedimentation
methods were employed to detect endoparasites in the faeces. The prevalence of
different types ofendoparasites in urban Mwanza city pigs were: Strongylid
nematodes (11.7%) Entomoeba ssp (27.2%), Ascaris suum (1.8%) Balntidium coli
(3.8%) and Coccidia spp (3.3%) and the only ectoparasites found was sarcoptic
mange (1.4%). In the peri -urban area the endoparasites found were Entomoeba
spp (51.6%), Strongylid nematodes (9.7%), Coccidia spp (5.8%). Ascaris suum
(12.9%) Balantidium coli 20.6%) and Trichurus suis (3.8%) and the ectoparasites
was sarcoptic mange (21.9%). Every piggery where samples were taken, the
management system was assessed. The difference in the livestock management
systems in the two areas clearly explains the observed high prevalence ofparasite
infection in the peri-uban compared to the urban areas ofMwanza city. The
negative impact ofthese parasites on livestock production and their public health
importance -since some ofthem are zoonotic in nature- cannot be underestimated.
The present study validates the need to bring awareness to the farmers and the
public at large so that they may embark on cost effective development ofparasite
control strategies. | en_US |
