PARASITIC DISEASES OF PIGS
Bimectin Injection is licensed for the treatment and control of a number of important internal and external parasites in pigs.
Internal Parasites in Pigs
How common are internal parasites in pigs?
Internal parasites are an uncommon problem in the weaned, growing and finisher pig unless they are housed in continuously occupied straw based or bare concrete pens in which case ascarids may become a problem.
In the sow the important internal parasites are:
- Ascaris suum (the large white worm or Ascarids)
- Hyostrongylus rubidus (red stomach worms)
- Trichuris suis (whipworms)
In piglets, an important internal parasite is:
Bimectin Injection is also licensed for a range of external parasites in pigs.
Ascaris suum (the large white worm or Ascarids)
The pig ingests the egg with an L2 larva inside. The L2 migrates to the liver, moults to the L3 form, and then migrates to the lungs. L3 Larvae enter the alveoli, are coughed up and then swallowed. They then moult two further times and become adults.
What are the symptoms and impacts of the large white worm?
L2 an L3 cause small pulmonary haemorrhages and oedema, congestion of the air pathways and pneumonia when large infestations. Secondary bacterial infections can exacerbate the problem and lead to death.
Clinical signs include coughing, rapid shallow breathing, un-thriftiness, colic, weight loss and poor FCE.
Hyostrongylus rubidus (red stomach worms)
The red stomach worm is found world-wide in the stomach and is a common parasite of outdoor pigs, but is rare in growing pigs. The adult worms burrow into the mucous lining of the stomach where they suck blood and cause an inflammation (gastritis).
What are the symptoms and impacts of red stomach worms?
The worms cause inflammation (gastritis) through burrowing into the mucous lining of the stomach and sucking blood. Heavy infections cause anaemia, poor growth rates, loss of condition, thin sows and occasional episodes of diarrhoea.
Whipworms are a common world-wide parasite. After ingestion the larvae hatch out and penetrate the intestinal wall before moving to the large intestine and caecum where they mature into adults.
What are the symptoms and impacts of whipworms?
With poor husbandry it can become a major pathogen, resulting in depressed growth rate and impaired feed conversion efficiency. The larvae burrow into the intestinal wall forming nodules, causing irritation, inflammation, haemorrhage and anaemia. Diarrhoea with blood and mucous occur in heavy infections.
Worms of Piglets
The threadworm (Strongyloides ransomi)
The threadworm is a parasite common to neonatal piglets. In severe infections, the piglet will suffer from anaemia, diarrhoea, dehydration, emaciation. In extreme cases, death can result. Most mortality occurs in piglets less than two weeks old. Diarrhoea, dehydration and un-thriftiness can occur in pigs up to three months old.
External Parasites
Lice including Haematopinus suis and Mange Mites including Sarcoptes scabiei var.suis also affect pigs. Bimectin Injection is licensed for the treatment and control of these external parasites in pigs.
