Gastrointestinal Parasites in Wild Boars from an Indigenous Community Settlement in Sarikei, Sarawak
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22452/jtoh.vol1.6Keywords:
Microscopy, PCR, formal-ether concentration technique, wild boar, gastrointestinal parasitesAbstract
Wild boars (Sus scrofa) serve as significant reservoirs for diverse gastrointestinal parasites capable of infecting both wildlife and domestic pigs and may cause economic and production losses in pig and wild-boar farming.The present study focused on gastrointestinal helminths and protozoa in 23 free-ranging wild boars kept by the indigenous community in Sarikei, Sarawak.This investigation assessed the occurrence of helminth infections in wild boars from an indigenous community settlement in Sarikei, Sarawak, employing both microscopic analysis and molecular using multiplex PCR. All samples exhibited polyparasitism. Strongyles represented the highest percentage of the parasites at 87%, followed by Eimeria spp. 65.2%, Entamoeba spp. 47.8%, Ascaris spp. 34.8%, Strongyloides spp. 26.1%, and Metastrongylus spp. 8.7%. Multiplex PCR specifically targeting Oesophagostomum spp. detected the 330 bp amplicon corresponding to Oesophagostomum quadrispinulatum in 11 of the 23 samples (47.8%). These findings demonstrate a substantial gastrointestinal parasite burden and frequent polyparasitism in wild boars kept under free‑ranging conditions and may cause economic and production losses in small‑scale wild‑boar husbandry. Ascaris spp. and Entamoeba spp., which have potential zoonotic risk, were detected in this study, indicating the need for further investigation in people and domestic livestock in the surrounding community. Enhanced monitoring and an integrated health approach are essential to mitigate transmission risks.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Wei Yin Vinnie-Siow, Tiong Kai Tan, Van Lun Low, Lian Lim Yvonne Ai (Author)
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