Gastro-intestinal nematodes — pigs

Pigs in Canada may be infected with a variety of gastro-intestinal nematodes other than Ascaris suum:

 

Hyostrongylus rubidus is a trichostrongyle that lives as adults in the stomach of pigs around the world.The adult and egg morphology, life cycle and general biology of H. rubidus are very similar to those for Ostertagia ostertagi of cattle. Hyostrongylus rubidus sucks blood, however, and the emergence of larvae following inhibited development does not seem to be a cause of specific disease.

 

While small burdens of H. rubidus are usually asymptomatic, heavier infections may be associated with gastric ulceration, diarrhea, loss of appetite and loss of condition. Hyostrongylus rubidus has been implicated as a causative factor for “thin sow syndrome”. In Canada, a specific diagnosis of H. rubidus infection or disease is made very rarely. The eggs of H. rubidus are microscopically indistinguishable from those of Oesohagostomum species.

Products approved in Canada for H. rubidus in pigs are those containing doramectin (DECTOMAX), fenbendazole (SAFE-GUARD) and ivermectin (VARIOUS).

 

Strongyloides ransomi lives as adult females in the small intestine of pigs around the world.The adult and egg morphology, life cycle and general biology of S. ransomi are very similar to those for S. papillosus in ruminants, except that both pre-natal and trans-mammary infections can occur and may be significant. It is very unusual to make a specific diagnosis of S. ransomi infection or disease in pigs in Canada.

Products approved in Canada for S. ransomi in pigs are those containing doramectin (DECTOMAX) or ivermectin (VARIOUS).

 

Trichuris suis live as adults in the large intestine of pigs around the world.The adult and egg morphology, life cycle and general biology of T. suis are very similar to those for Trichuris species in ruminants. While eggs of T. suis are occasionally found in fecal samples from pigs in Canada, it is very unusual to make a specific diagnosis of Trichuris suis disease in pigs in this country.

Products approved in Canada for T. suis in pigs are those containing dichlorvos (ATGARD) or fenbendazole (SAFE-GUARD).

Oesophagostomum species live as adults in the large intestine of pigs around the world.The adult and  egg morphology, life cycle and general biology of Oesophagostomum in pigs are very similar to those for Oesophagostomum species in ruminants. It is very unusual to make a specific diagnosis of Oesophagostomum species infection or disease in pigs in Canada. The eggs of Oesohagostomum species are microscopically indistinguishable from those of H. rubidus.

Products approved in Canada for Oesophagostomum species in pigs are those containing dichlorvos (ATGARD), doramectin (DECTOMAX), fenbendazole (SAFE-GUARD), ivermectin (VARIOUS) or piperazine (VARIOUS).

Additional information is on the products mentioned is available from the Compendium of Veterinary Products (Eleventh Edition, 2009) or from the manufacturers.