Occurrence and Parasitological Observation of Swine Trichuriasis on a Farm Using Sawdust Fermentation Floor

Abstract

In July, 1983, acute trichuriasis of occurred among swine on a breeding farm in Okayama Prefecture. The pig pens of the farm had a so-called sawdust fermentation floor which was composed of sawdust about 70cm in depth. Feces and urine were left in the pen to be treated by fermentation induced by sawdust and bacteria. The sawdust remained unchanegd for about one year. Such pen was developed by a Japanese farmer in 1982 to save the cost of excreta disposal.
Diarrhea, mucus and bloody feces were observed in a herd of pigs about 4months old. Of 363 pigs, eight died of the disease. In them, the colon, cecum, and rectum were parasitized with numerous immature Trichuris suis worms, affected with a severe inflammation. In two dead pigs the number of worms was 4, 400 and 5, 350 and the mean body length 10.6 and 18.4mm, respectively. No eggs were recovered from the feces. Trichuris eggs of the developing stage were detected in the sawdust of 20 of 50 pig pens. The disease was treated successfully with parbendazole or flubendazole.