HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hale, O. M. Articles by Stewart, T. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hale, O. M. Articles by Stewart, T. B.

Influence of an Experimental Infection of Trichuris Suis on Performance of Pigs

University of Georgia, College of Agriculture, Coastal Plain Station, Tifton 31794⁵

Abstract

Forty-eight pigs (average 25.7 kg live weight) were individually housed and fed to study the effect of a single infection of Trichuris suis (either 0; 550; 1,100; or 1,650 T. suis eggs/kg body weight) on performance of growing-finishing pigs. Average daily gain of pigs given either 1,100 or 1,650 T. suis eggs per kilogram body weight was less (P<.05) than that of pigs not infected. Feed required per unit of weight gain was 33% greater for pigs given either 1,100 or 1,650 T. suis eggs/kg body weight than for pigs not infected, but this difference was not significantly greater due to extreme variation within both groups of infected pigs. In each of two trials, eight crossbred barrows (average 21.9 kg body weight in trial 1 and 18.1 kg in trial 2) were used in a 2 x 2 factorial experiment to determine effects of T. suis at two levels of experimental infection (0 and 850 eggs/kg body weight) on digestion and absorption of nutrients and on nitrogen balance. Pigs in trial 1 had higher digestion coefficients for dry matter and nitrogen (P<.01) and a lower digestion coefficient for ether extract (P<.05) than pigs in trial 2. Pigs experimentally infected with T. suis had a higher digestion coefficient for ether extract (P<.05) and a lower digestion coefficient for crude fiber (P<.01), nitrogen (P<.01) and nitrogen free extract (P<.05). T. suis infected pigs had a lower nitrogen intake (P<.05), excreted less nitrogen in the urine and had a lower nitrogen balance (P<.01) than pigs not infected.

¹ Department of Animal Science.

² Animal Parasite Research Laboratory, SEA-AR, USDA, Tifton, GA 31794.

³ Reference to a company or product name does not imply approval or recommendation of the product by the US Department of Agriculture to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.

⁴ The authors wish to express their appreciation to Mr. O. G. Marti for technical assistance.

⁵ Supported by State and Hatch funds allocated to the Georgia Agr. Exp. Sta.