Difference in prevalence of gastrointestinal protozoa in pigs kept in a forest, on hobby farms and on organic farms
Summary
The prevalence of gastrointestinal protozoa was studied in suckling piglets, fatteners and sows
coming from 8 organic farms, 19 hobby farms and 3 forest/nature farms. On the hobby farms
and the forest/nature farms the pigs were of the Bentheim Black Pied breed. The prevalence was
determined using faecal microscopic examination of pooled samples. Infections with
Balantidium coli, Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp were not found. Infections with
coccidia were found on 75% of the organic farms, on 33% of the forest/nature farms and on
53% of the hobby farms. In the fatteners, the highest prevalence was on the hobby farms (75%).
In the sows, the highest prevalence was found on the organic farms (86%). The number of
examined suckling piglets was very low, so percentages from 43% up to 100% (1 sample) were
found.
The farms which had 2 pigs present (Bentheim Black Pied) had a significantly lower prevalence
of coccidial infections, compared to the farms with 3-9 animals and farms with >100 animals
present. The farms with over 100 pigs present were the organic farms.
No clinical signs were reported.