Ascariasis

Ascaris suum is the most significant intestinal parasite worldwide as it causes great economic loss.

Alternative names: Large round worm, Ascaris suum

Ascaris suum is a parasitic worm found in the small intestine, causing not only diarrhea, but widespread damage because its during its life cycle it also infects the liver and lungs. In heavy infestations, lung damage often causes great mortality, especially because antibiotics do not treat the pneumonia. At the slaughterhouse, livers of affected pigs are confiscated.

Sows, nursery, and fattening

• Diarrhea, without blood or mucus.
• Dehydration.
• Hairy pigs.
• Slow growth and weight loss.
• Pneumonia with cough.

• Pigs raised outdoors, especially those exposed to the soil.

Clinical presentation: pneumonia in breeding animals housed outdoors whose condition does not improve with antibiotics. Analysis of feces for eggs. Necropsy- white spots on the liver and worms in the small intestine.

• Limit pigs' exposure to soil.
• Use of anthelmintics.