Prevalence of Parasites on Various Smallholder Pig Production Systems in Timor-Leste

A survey with objectives to define th prevalnce of internal and external parasites of pigs in Timor-Leste. As many as 180 pig owners hae been selected from six sucos iha Timor-Leste to be respondents of the survey. And, a total of 360 pigs have been enrolled in the survey for faecal collection and skin scraping sample collection. The respondents and the pigs were randomly selected from six selected sucos to represent eastern and western regions. As many as 30 respondents with 60 pigs in each suco have been selected to be sampled during the research period. An interview to selected pig owners and direct observation of pigs owned by the farmers hav been recorded in pig record form. The result showed the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of pigs in Timot-Leste was 41.94%. At the suco level, the findings showed the prevalence of internal parasites in the suco Ritabou, Manaka, Aidabaleten, Baha Mori, Libagua, and Triloca: 71.67%, 56.67%, 18.33%, 35.00%, 12.07%, and 56.45%, respectively. In addition, the survey identified the prevalence of seven gastrointestinal parasites affecting pigs in Timor-Leste, including Ascaris suum (21.67%), Globucephalus urosubulatos (14.72%), Hyostrongylus rubidos (11.11%), stongyloides ransoni (5.00%), Oesophagustomum dentatum (3.61%), Trichuris suis (2.22%), and Metastrongylus sp (1.11%). Finally, the survy have identified two external parasites of pigs in Timor-Leste were demodex and sarcoptes. It is suggested to continue conduct similar research in other places to mapping up the prevalence and its distribution in Timor-Leste. The study recommended to do eradication program by the Ministry of Agriculture, particularly the department of veterinary services.