Parasitosis of the stomach in the Sicilian black pig: parasitological and anatomo-pathological studies

Intensive breeding of pig caused the disappearance of some species of parasites, expecially the parasites with indirect cycle. Only in the pigs which live in a wild state it is possible to see the presence of these parasites. The authors described the gastric lesions observed during 2005 year in n° 367 Nebrodi’s Black pigs ranging from 8 months to 4 years regularly slaughtered. 38.15% of the stomachs showed parasitic infestations associated to the presence of moderate to severe inflammations. The parasites were collected and classified (63 samples). Ascarops strongylina, Simmondsia paradoxa and Phisycephalus sexalatus were detected respectively in n° 46, n° 14 and n°3 stomachs. Rare references exist about the gastric parasites of the pigs bred in a wild state and of the wild boars. In the present study the role of these parasites seems to be important because severe chronic, suppurative or granulomatous lesions were frequently observed associated to the reduction of the growth and of the slaughter rate. Regular anthelmintic treatments will be helpful to improve the growth rate of the animals.