Helminths of the wild boar [Sus scrofa L.] in natural and breeding conditions

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. (χ²=4.34; df=l; P=0.037), Metastrongylus sp. (χ²=8.03; df=2; P=0.004), and A suum (χ²=15.67; df=2; P=0.000).