Pigs

Question 1

Ascaris suum is where in pigs

Answer 1

Large roundworm of pigs
Distribution: worldwide – very common

Question 2

What pigs commonly get A.suum and what do they look like

Answer 2

Parasite of grower pigs (2-5 months)
highest prevalence
highest intensity
Morphology - big, white worms

Question 3

Life cycle of A.suum

Answer 3

Adults in SI
extremely fecund females (2,000,000 epd)
Eggs become infective (L3)
temperature dependent development (days to months)
extremely hardy eggs (7-10 yr. survival)
Hepato-Tracheal migration after ingestion of eggs
Liver - 3-4 days PI
Lungs - 4-6 days PI
Return to SI - 7- 8 days PI
PPP 6-8 wks
Dx. Ascarid eggs in feces – fecal flotation

Question 4

What happens to the liver when infected with A.suum

Answer 4

MIGRATING LARVAE
Liver – first infection - physical damage
Following infections - hypersensitivity
Allergic inflammation
“Milk-spots”
Condemned livers a problem
Very rarely - severe hepatitis

Question 5

What happens to lungs infected with A.suum

Answer 5

Emphysema
“Heaves” or “thumps”
May allow entrance of secondary bacterial and viral infections
Other mammals can be infected – sheep, cattle, poultry, Zoonotic

Question 6

What signs do adult A.suum cause

Answer 6

Subclinical effects
Performance problems
Weight gain, days to market
Obstruction
Perforation of gut wall
Occlude bile duct

Question 7

How do you control A.suum

Answer 7

Monitor control through fecal flotation
Routine deworm
Keep a clean environemnt

Question 8

What is essential to know about A.suum

Answer 8

Common in pig barns worldwide
Direct lice cycle
Prevalence and intensity – grower pigs
Egg numbers and egg survival
Zoonotic

Question 9

Strongyloides ransomi is common where

Answer 9

Distribution worldwide
Warmer climates – southern USA
Parasite of baby pigs
Still nursing
Hygiene??

Question 10

Morphology of S.ransomi

Answer 10

Morphology – same as all strongyloid you have seen

Question 11

Life cycle of S.ransomi

Answer 11

Typical Strongyloides: Homogonic and Heterogonic
Prenatal and TRANSMAMMARY are the major routes of infection
Single infection of a sow - affects 3-4 litters
PPP 11 days

Question 12

What is the Pathogenesis of S.ransomi

Answer 12

Adults in gut - catarrhal enteritis
Haemorrhage
severe even fatal (75% mort)
Dysentery, anemia, wasting, vomiting
Permanent stunting of growth
Dx. - larvated eggs in feces

Question 13

Oesophagostomum spp. is and common in

Answer 13

O. dentatum
O. quadrispiculatum
Distribution: worldwide
Parasite of pigs in the breeding herd

Question 14

Life cycle of Oesophagostomum spp

Answer 14

Adults in LI. Infective stage?
Migration route?
PPP 40-50 days

Question 15

Diagnosis of Oesophagostomum spp.

Answer 15

Dx. - typical strongyle egg
Very similar to Hyostrongylus

Question 16

What signs can Oesophagostomum spp. cause in pigs

Answer 16

Rarely causes clinical problems
Subclinical and Clinical effects
L4 in mucosa (nodules)
Severe diarrhea, weight loss
Epidemiology
Sows

Question 17

Trichuris suis is common where

Answer 17

Distribution: worldwide
Parasite of pigs in the grower barn

Question 18

Trichuris suis morphology

Answer 18

Typical whipworm
Lemon shaped egg

Question 19

Life cycle of T.suis

Answer 19

Typical trichurid
Eggs in feces
Resilient
L1 infective inside the egg
Mucosal migration
PPP 6 weeks

Question 20

What is the Pathogenesis of T.suis

Answer 20

Subclinical to clinical effects
Catarrhal enteritis
Mucosal diarrhoea (blood)
Anorexia
Wasting
Anemia

Question 21

Metastrongylus spp is common where

Answer 21

Pig lungworm
Distribution: worldwide

Question 22

How big are Metastrongylus spp adults

Answer 22

M-25mm, F-48 mm

Question 23

Life cycle of Metastrongylus spp

Answer 23

Indirect (earthworm IH)
Adults in lungs
Larvated eggs in feces
IH ingests egg or hatched L1
L1-L3 in IH
Long term survival of larval stage
Pig ingests IH
Migration - lymphatics and vasculature to lungs
PPP 24-28d

Question 24

Pathogenesis of Metastrongylus spp

Answer 24

Similar to D.viviparus in cattle
Newly arived larvae
Adults in bronchi
Eggs are aspirated into alveoli
Most severe towards end of PPP

Question 25

How do you diagnose Metastrongylus spp

Answer 25

Eggs in feces

Question 26

Sarcoptes mites in pigs look like

Answer 26

BURROWING MITE
Dorso-ventrally flattened
Eight very short legs
Can infect people and pigs

Question 27

What are pig lice

Answer 27

Anoplura
Sucking lice
Haematopinus suis

Question 28

Coccidiosis in pigs is caused by and common in

Answer 28

8 Eimeria sp. – harmless
Custosporoa suis
Common in 7-14 day old piglets

Question 29

What are the c/s of coccidiosis in pigs

Answer 29

Yellow-gray diarrhoea – pasty loss of condition/dehydration

Question 30

Toxoplasmosis in pigs

Answer 30

Pigs are a common intermediate host for toxoplasma gondii – and a source of human infection
Pigs most often acquired
Toxoplasma horizontally (don’t let cats defecate on
Pig feed)
Weaned pigs fed oocysts or tissue cysts generally developed weight loss, anorexia, fever, but generally recovered by three weeks p.i.