Helminthosis in Smallholder Pig herds in Kikuyu division, Kiambu district, Kenya

Abstract

A study was conducted in sixty-two randomly selected herds in Kikuyu division, Kiambu district in central Kenyan highlands to obtain prevalence, spectrum and intensity of gastrointestinal helminths in pigs kept by smallholder farmers. Faecal samples from a total of 598 pigs of various age-group categories (piglets, weaners, growers and adults) were taken during a period of 4 months in 1999 and examined for helminths eggs (EPG) using modified McMaster technique. Gastrointestinal helminth eggs were observed in 57 (91.9%) of the herds, The Helminths observed were (4%), Strongyloids (3.2%) and Tapeworms (0.3%). The overall prevalence of the helminths was 43.5%. The prevalence among the various age groups differed significantly (p<0.01) with the highest prevalence in the weaners (55.6%) and the lowest in the piglets (22.9%). The prevalence of Strongyles and Strongyloids differed significantly (p<0.01) among the age groups. The highest prevalence for Strongyles was in the growers (41.7%) and the lowest in the piglets (22.9%) while the highest prevalence for Strongyloids was in the piglets (14.5%) and the lowest in the adults (0.8%). The prevalence of Ascarids differed significantly (p<0.01) among the age groups with the highest prevalence in the weaners (27.8%) and the lowest in the piglets (3.6%). The prevalence of Trichuris worms was significantly (p<0.5) higher in the weaners than in the piglets. The high prevalence of the gastrointestinal helminths observed indicates the need to control these parasites due to their detrimental effects on productivity and also dueto their public health significance.