Epidemiology and distribution of gastrointestinal parasites in fattening pig farms in northern Italy.

ABSTRACT: In Italy, pig breeding is characterised by intensive farms in which parasitic diseases often present a subclinical pattern, while being responsible for decreased animal welfare and great economic losses. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of major parasites in pigs, and, for this purpose, 880 faecal samples of fattening pigs raised in 22 intensive farms located in northern Italy were collected in two different sampling sessions, at the beginning and end of the fattening cycle. For the detection of helminth eggs and coccidian oocysts, a quantitative flotation technique was used, whereas a conventional PCR was performed to confirm the identification of cestode eggs found by copromicroscopic analysis. Moreover, data regarding herd management were collected to assess risk factors

SUBMITTER: Allievi C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11341578 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature