Studies on the blood parasites of pigs in Ibadan, Nigeria

The blood parasites in the blood of local pigs kept under free range, and exotic pigs kept under intensive management of Ibadan were investigated. The species found were Babesia trautmanni, B. perroncitoi, Eperythrozoon suis and E. parvum. Eperythrozoon suis was the most predominant in both breeds. Most of the local pigs carried mixed infections, while the same number of the exotic pigs carried single and mixed infections. Mixed infection of individual pigs with all four blood parasites was common. The parasitaemia was generally low in pigs of both breeds.