Research and extension action for parasitic control in pig breeding families located in Tanguá, Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the parasites infesting pigs and their producers on family farms in Tanguá, RJ, Brazil, and to conduct extension activities between 2018 and 2019. Fecal samples were collected from 132 pigs, as well as, skin scrapings from the ears of 125 animals. In addition, 36 stool specimens from farmers and their families were analyzed. The collected material was processed by direct examination, sedimentation and flotation techniques. Gastrointestinal parasites were detected in 88.6% of the pigs, especially coccidia (71.8%), Balantioides coli (55%), strongyles (40.2%) and Strongyloides ransomi (31.6%) which showed statistically significance (p<0.05). Ectoparasites were identified in 16% of the pigs, mostly Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis (76.2%). Parasites were detected in 19.4% of the humans, including, Entamoeba coli (19.4%), Ascaris lumbricoides (8.3%) and Trichuris trichiura (5.5%). The frequency of B. coli and S. scabiei var. suis (p<0.05) were statistically significant, when analyzing the age group of the animals, having been more detected in the older years, fatterners phase. The pig farmers participated in these activities extension, which included lecture and “field day”, aimed at imparting information about parasites and their prophylaxis. The situation in Tanguá pig farms reinforces the need to carry out programs that provide technical support to these farmers, whose livelihood depends on pig farming.

COVID-19 and the fragility of Brazilian small farming resilience

“…Case 2 producers (C2) stay in Tanguá city, in the metropolitan region of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Figure 1). The region has several small farms run by families (Class et al, 2020). This case study focuses on the cultivation of tomatoes (1 ha).…”

Comparison of McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC techniques for the diagnosis of internal parasites in pigs

“…However, few studies to date have evaluated the efficiency of this technique in pig feces, that is, the ability to detect the highest number of positive samples and the highest EPG values of helminths. It is known that gastrointestinal parasites have deleterious effects on pigs, causing economic losses for producers, particularly in the case of small farmers for whom these animals represent a source of income and family subsistence ( Class et al, 2020 ). This underscores the importance of estimating the load of parasitic helminths in pigs, since their treatment with anti-parasitic drugs by small farmers is usually haphazard.…”

Face to face: Balantioides coli: A forgotten parasite

“…In Brazil, specifically Rio de Janeiro city, our research group detected B. coli as the main parasite in pig breeding in the industrial and family farms, as well as in a herd of captive nonhuman primates in different institutions. [ 14 15 16 17 ] However, in animal handlers, there was no evidence of evolutionary forms of this parasite. [ 18 ] It should be noted that this monitoring continues to be carried out by our group, not only within the scope of the research, but also with a focus on rural extension, through the mediation of information with small rural pig producers on the parasite with a focus on the forms of prevention.…”