| dc.description.abstract | Ectoparasites are parasites which live outside the body of an animal. They are of great economic significance in pigs, contributing significantly to poor growth, reduced weight gain, disease transmission and even death. Mites, lice and fleas are among the most common ectoparasites in pigs. Infection by a female sand flea (Tunga penetrans) causes a disease called tungiasis. It is a zoonotic parasitic dermatosis of humans and a wide range of mammals. Mites cause mange and the commonest is sarcoptic mange and the only lice species found in pigs are Haematopinus suis. This study assessed the prevalence of T. Penetrans and other external parasites in pigs presented for slaughter at wambizi abattoir, Kampala district. This was a cross sectional study carried out between March and July, 2021. Data was collected using a data collection tool which documented breed, district of origin, sex, age group, occurrence of sand fleas and other ectoparasites with their predilection sites among others. Pigs were physically restrained using a pig snare and systematically examined from the head, neck, trunk, tail and the limbs. Digits were scrubbed with water and a brush for easy detection of embedded sand fleas. Visual observation with partying of hairs on the body was used to detect ectoparasites. Some ectoparasites were sampled, preserved in 70% ethanol and transported to the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB) for identification. The number of pigs examined in this study was 300 samples. Descriptive statistics for the variables were generated and comparisons were done using paired t test to compare means and the chi-square test to check for association between variables. The prevalence of tungiasis in pigs was 23.7% (71/300). Most of the affected pigs came from Eastern Uganda (16.7%, 50/71). p<0.001. Other pigs with tungiasis came from Central Uganda (5.3%, 16/71) and Northern Uganda (1.7%, 5/71). Regarding predilection sites, hind limbs were significantly more infected than the fore limbs (p<0.001). Other ectoparasites observed were ticks with the highest prevalence of 66.3% (n=300), lice with 48.0% (n=300) and mites (mange), 15.3%. Tungiasis and other ectoparasites including ticks, lice and mites were highly prevalent among pigs coming from various regions of Uganda presented for slaughter at Wambizi abattoir. This calls for attention from veterinarians and farmers to devise means of preventing ectoparasitoses. | en_US |
