Category:Pig Nematodes

Under the intensive indoor husbandry systems practiced in the UK, worms affect the health and productivity of growing pigs to a considerably lesser extent than is the case with ruminants or horses. Even so, if there are any in adequacies in buildings, nutrition or management that cause stres or enable eggs and larvae to accumulate, worm infections can increase the food conversion ratio and/or days to slaughter.

Free-range pigs are exposed to a wider range of potentially harmful nematodes, as eggs and larvae can accumulate in soil, and there is greater access to intermediate hosts (such as earthworms and pig lungworms.

There are only four gastro-intestinal nematodes of consequence in the UK:

• Hyostrongylus rubidis
• Oesophagostomum species
• Ascaris suum
• Trichuris suis

and one lungworm genus (in outdoor pigs):

• Metastrongylus species

Gastro-Intestinal Nematodes

H. rubidis and Oesophagostomum species are strongyle nematodes. They do not invoke a strongly protective immune response. Pigs therefore remain susceptible throughout their lives. Heavy infections may occur in sows at pasture or in straw yards.