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.…”

Family-Run Pig Farms: Research and Extension Activities for Parasite Control in a Municipality in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…[14,15]. This health problem could be mitigated and even overcome in the long term if scientific technical support were provided to these small producers through continuous work in the area of rural extension [16,17].…”

“…However, there is still a paucity of studies in the scientific literature about research of parasites on family properties, where extension activities are performed to support these small producers in pig farming management. It should be noted that on this topic, only one scientific article in the literature we consulted associates research with rural extension, and the authors belong to our research group [17]. To improve the activities carried out by extending the study initiated to other locations, this study aimed to analyze the frequency of parasites detected in pigs, relating their positivity rates with risk factors, and to perform the same analysis on human fecal samples from pig farmers on family farms to detect mainly parasites with zoonotic potential, associating the information garnered in this research with extension activities in order to disseminate information about parasite control.…”