HELMINTHS OF THE WILD BOAR (SUS SCROFA L.) IN NATURAL AND BREEDING CONDITIONS

Abstract

Comparative coproscopic studies on the occurrence of helminths in the wild boar included two groups of animals living under different conditions: one (A) - wild boar inhabiting a woodland area, another (B) – wild boar from a free-range farm. Analysis of 142 samples of faeces revealed the occurrence of six nematode species: Oesophagostomum sp./Globocephalus sp., Metastrongylus sp., Trichuris suis, Ascaris suum, Ascarops strongylina, and Physocephalus sexalatus. The prevalence of infection was very high – 97.2%, while the mean number of eggs was 34.3 ±88.6. The prevalence was similar in the two groups: A=98.4% vs. B=96.3%. The mean number of eggs was higher in group B (46.6 ±115.3; range 1-902) compared to A (18.3 ±17.2; 1-83). All the parasite taxa were found in each group. The frequency of individual helminth taxa differed between the groups, but the differences were statistically significant only for Oesophagostomum sp./Globocephalus sp. (χ 2 =4.34; df=1; P=0.037), Metastrongylus sp. (χ 2 =8.03; df=2; P=0.004), and A. suum (χ 2 =15.67; df=2; P=0.000).