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Nose-Rings and Transmission of Helminth Parasites in Outdoor Pigs

Næseringe og transmission af helminther i udendørs grise

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 41, pages 153–165 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Five growing pigs experimentally infected with low doses of Oesophagostomum dentation, Ascaris suum, and Trichuris suis were turned out with 5 helminth-naïve pigs on each of 3 pastures in June 1996 (Group 1). On one pasture all pigs received nose-rings. After slaughter of Group 1 in October, pasture infectivity was monitored using helminth-naïve, unringed tracer pigs. In 1997, helminth-naïve young pigs were turned out on the contaminated pastures in May (Group 2) and again in August (Group 3). Again all pigs on one pasture received nose-rings. All pigs and pastures were followed parasitologically and reduction in grass cover was monitored. Based on the acquisition of infection by the naïve pigs in Group 1, the estimated minimal embryonation times for eggs deposited on pasture were 23–25 days for O. dentatum, 5–6 weeks for A. suum and 9–10 weeks for T. suis. Results from tracer pigs and grass/soil samples indicated that pasture infectivity was light both years. Free-living stages of O. dentatum did not survive the winter. The nose-rings reduced rooting considerably, resulting in three-fold more grass cover on the nose-ring pasture compared to the control pastures by the end of the experiment. Nevertheless, the nose-rings did not significantly influence parasite transmission.

Sammendrag

Fem slagtesvin, som var eksperimentelt inficeret med lave doser af Oesophagostomum dentatum, Ascaris suum og Trichuris suis, blev sammen med 5 helminth-naive grise bundet ud på hver af 3 folde i juni 1996 (Gruppe 1). På én af markerne fik alle grise isat en næsering. Efter slagtning af grisene i Gruppe 1 i oktober blev marksmitten undersøgt ved hjælp af helminth-naive tracergrise uden næse-ring. I 1997 blev helminth-naive grise bundet ud på de kontaminerede marker i maj (Gruppe 2) og igen i august (Gruppe 3). På den ene mark fik alle grise ring i næsen. Alle grise og marker blev fulgt parasitologisk, og nedslidningen af græsdækket blev registreret. Udfra den begyndende ægudskilllelse af de helminthnaive grise i Gruppe 1, blev det estimeret, at de første infektive parasitstadier blev udviklet på markerne i løbet af 23–25 dage for O. dentatum, 5–6 uger for A. suum og 9–10 uger for T. suis. Resultater fra tracergrisene og græs-/jordprøver indikerede, at marksmitten var lav begge år. De fritlevende stadier af O. dentatum overlevede ikke vinteren. Næseringene reducerede grisenes rodeadfærd væsentligt med det resultat, at græsdækket ved forsøgets afslutning var 3 gange større på næseringsmarken end på de 2 kontrolmarker. Alligevel påvirkede næseringene ikke parasittransmissionen signifikant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Danish Centre for Experimental Parasitology, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Ridebanevej 3, DK-1870, Frederiksberg, Denmark

    H. Mejer, S. Wendt, L. E. Thomsen & A. Roepstorff

  2. Department of Population Biology, Zoological Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

    H. Mejer, S. Wendt, L. E. Thomsen & O. Hindsbo

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  1. H. Mejer
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  2. S. Wendt
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  3. L. E. Thomsen
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  4. A. Roepstorff
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  5. O. Hindsbo
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Correspondence to H. Mejer.

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Mejer, H., Wendt, S., Thomsen, L.E. et al. Nose-Rings and Transmission of Helminth Parasites in Outdoor Pigs. Acta Vet Scand 41, 153–165 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03549647

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147