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Detection of Blastocystis sp. in pigs in Aragon (Spain)
J Quilez1, A Clavel, C Sanchez-Acedo
1Department of Animal Pathology, Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Spain.
Abstract:
Infection by Blastocystis sp. has been detected for the first time in pigs in Spain. Detection was carried out by the ethyl acetate-formalin concentration method and direct microscopy. Vacuolated cells of Blastocystis sp. were found in stool samples from 27 of 360 pigs examined (7.5%). The protozoan was present on nine of 17 pig farms studied (53%). Infected pigs ranged from 1 month old to adults, but the organism was most frequent in 1-2 month old (18.4%) and 2-6 month old pigs (15.4%). No correlation was found between Blastocystis sp. infection and occurrence of diarrhoea in pigs.