A Survey of Ectoparasites Infestation of Pigs in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

Ectoparasite infestation is a major problem faced by pig farmers which is often associated with a huge economic loss and decreased yield in production. This cross-sectional study was undertaken to survey ectoparasites present in three selected farms in Awka, Anambra State, and their prevalence in relation to sex, age and location. A total of 101 pigs were examined for the presence of ectoparasites using standard parasitological methods. A total of 69 pigs were infested with an overall prevalence of 68.32%. The ectoparasites seen on the pigs included; lice (Haematopinus suis 37.68%), mites (Sarcoptes scabiei 34.78%) and ticks (Rhipicephalus species 11.59%, Amblyomma species 13.04%, and Haemaphysalis longicornis 2.91%). The female pigs had the highest level of ectoparasites infestation (69.39%) while the male pigs had a slightly lower infestation rate 67.3%, although the result was not statistically significant (p=0.917). Pigs within the age range of 6-19 months recorded the highest infestation of ectoparasites (67.92%), while those between the age ranges of 1-5 months and >20 months had 66.66% parasite infestation respectively. There was no significant difference in the level of infestation across the different ages of the pigs examined (p=0.706). The infestation of pigs by ectoparasites in the study area was found to be high and this calls for the implementation of regular control strategies and better management practices of pig farms.