The effect of two types of diet on populations of Ascaris suum and Oesophagostomum dentatum in experimentally infected pigs

Abstract

This investigation compared the effect of two common types of diet on worm burdens and faecal egg counts of pigs inoculated with Ascaris suum and Oesophagostomum dentatum. The diets were both considered nutritionally sufficient for pigs of this age, and gave high and comparable growth rates. Pigs were inoculated with both worm species at 14 weeks of age and slaughtered 3 or 12 weeks later. At 3 weeks, A. suum larvae were numerous in the small intestine of pigs fed ground barley plus protein supplement, but were not detected from pigs fed a commercial full-constituent pelleted feed. At 12 weeks, however, average adult worm burdens were low and similar in both groups. At both slaughter times, O. dentatum worm burdens were significantly higher in pigs fed barley plus protein than in pigs given commercial feed, particularly for female worms, and the commercial diet led to worms being located further along the large intestine, and to reduced worm fecundity. The chemical composition of large intestinal contents differed significantly between pigs fed the two diets.