Intestinal Parasite Infections in Pigs and Beef Cattle in Rural Areas of Chungcheongnam-do, Korea

• Published in: Korean journal of parasitology 2010-12, Vol.48 (4), p.347-349
• Main Authors: Ahmed Ismail, Hassan Ahmed Hassan, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea, Jeon, H.K., Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Republic of Korea, Yu, Y.M., Chungnam National University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Daejeon, Republic of Korea, Do, C.H., Chungnam National University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Daejeon, Republic of Korea, Lee, Y.H., Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; BEEF CATTLE; BOVIN DE BOUCHERIE; Brief Communication; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; Cattle Diseases - parasitology; CERDO; Feces - parasitology; GANADO DE CARNE; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - epidemiology; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - veterinary; intestinal parasite; Korea - epidemiology; Parasitic Diseases, Animal - epidemiology; PORCIN; Prevalence; Rural Population; SWINE; Swine Diseases - epidemiology; Swine Diseases - parasitology
• ISSN: 0023-4001; 1738-0006
• DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2010.48.4.347

The present study was performed to investigate the infection status of intestinal parasites in pigs and beef cattle in rural areas of Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. From November 2009 to April 2010, a total of 241 fecal samples of pigs and beef cattle (136 and 105, respectively) were examined by direct smear and centrifugal sedimentation methods. The overall positive rates of intestinal parasites among pigs and beef cattle were 73.5% and 4.8%, respectively, and the double-infection rate was 10.3% in pigs. Of 136 specimens from pigs, Balantidium coli, Ascaris suum, and Entamoeba spp. infections were found in 88 (64.7%), 24 (17.6%), and 5 cases (3.7%), respectively. Of 105 beef cattle, Entamoeba spp. infections were detected in 5 cases (4.8%). From these results, it is shown that pigs raised on rural farms in Chungcheongnam-do had a high B. coli infection rate and a moderate A. suum infection rate. These results demonstrate that environmentally resistant cysts or eggs could be widespread on the farms examined, and thus an effective hygienic management system is needed to prevent them from serving as the source of infection for human beings.