Variation of number of nematode eggs in faeces of sows during reproductive cycle

Abstract

Coprologic examinations, aimed to count and identify eggs and larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes, were performed within the swine reproductive cycle, in sows, and their litters, of an Experimental Swine Farm. Infections caused by Oesophagostomum spp., Hyostrongylus rubidus and Ascaris suum were found in the sows, but not in the piglets at the weaning time. The total number of nematode eggs shedded per gram of faeces, ranged from 0 (zero) to 5,900, with the Oesophagostomum genus being responsible for 81.1% of eggs counted. The average number of eggs per gram faeces, taken for the sows in three periods during this experiment, were found to be 163.4 (gestation), 401.6 (lactation) and 304.5 (after weaning). The increase in the average number of eggs at the lactation period was primarily attributable to presence of the genus Oesophagostomum