FARMING WORLD

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21218, 14 September 1940, Page 18 (Supplement)

FARMING WORLD

(By “Stockman”)

LOobtS Uh PIUS

FN ELM O -NIA P P. (ji'.L EM WORM INFESTATION Worm infestation is a source ol considerable loss to Waikato pig producers. It is interesting to note that an Australian authority in discussing problems with Australian producers recently said that pneumonia and worm infestation in pigs were the two diseases which caused the biggest economic loss to the Australian pig keeper. He said that these two disease were named together because a pig infested with worms also developed pneumonia later. Fneumonia, he said, was an inflammation of the lungs which could be brought about by germ or bacterial infection, or by the result of worm infestation. Pneumonia caused havoc mainly in pigs up to four months old. In pneumonia caused by germ infection, many organisms had been found, and it was not always possible to state which one was the cause, but one known as the Bacilus Suis septica was the cause cf contageous pneumonia. This germ was normally present in healthy lungs, and so long as the pig was in good health it did no harm, but, if through various causes —such as improper feeding, bad housing, and insanitary surroundings. lcr:g journeys without food, exposure to cold and draughts—the animal’s was lowered, then these bacteria might increase rapid ly and become highy virulent and cause the disease. Causes of Disease v Pneumonia caused as the result of infestation of the pig with the large round worm was brought about in the following way:—The female large white worm in the intestine laid eggs which were passed out in the dung. Under favourable conditions —moisture and warmth—the eggs had developed in them a young worm larva). If such eggs were picked up in food, or off the ground, or (in the case of sucker pigs) off the teats of the mother and swallowed, the egg shell was dissolved and the young worms set free. These young worms burrowed through the bowel wall, reached the blood stream, whence they were taken to the lungs, where they underwent further development.

At this stage, if numerous, they set up coughing, bronchitis, and pneumonia. From the lungs they reached the windpipe, and from this position or through coughing, they reached the mouth or throat, were swallowed, and returned to the small bowel where they developed into mature worms, which again produced eggs. From the time the eggs were first swallowed, to the development of the adult worm, took seven weeks or more.

Understanding tnat pneumonia in pigs could be due lo me euecis oi worm infestation on the one nand and germ infection on the otner, tne question of treatment must now be considered. Treatment for disease could be placed in two categories:— {IJ Curative; (2; Preventive. Prevention and Cure Curative. —Treatment of pigs suffering from pneumonia must aim at providing comfortable and clean quarters, airy without draughts, providing clean bedding and ample fresh drinking water and good food, such as milk, if possible, green feed or good quality lucerne or hay, in addition to grain. Preventive. —Bearing in mind that worms might be the cause, pigs should always be kept under such conditions as would reduce the liability to infestation to a minimum. As young pigs up to four months old were the principal sufferers as the result of worm infestation much could be done to start them off if their dam, prior to producing the litter, were brought in seven to ten days before she was due to farrow, thoroughly washed—especially the udder and teats —with hot soapy water, and then placed in a clean sty containing a cement, brick or wooden floor, previously well disinfected.

This meant that the piglets did not take in myriads of eggs which otherwise adhered to the nipples and udder. If the sow and her litter were to be turned out into a yard or small grassed area, it should be on clean ground which had not previously been used by other pigs. Pig-keeping was a different proposition from raising sheep or dairying, where such stock had comparatively large areas of country over which to graze. In the case of pigs, large numbers were held, usually on a comparatively small area, and unless provision was made for regular changing to fresh ground, or, if housed, the floors made watertight and kept free -of manure and litter, the ground became heavily contaminated with worm eggs which were readily picked up by the pigs.