Pulmonary Paragonimus infection and other pathologic findings in feral swine (Sus scrofa) from Macon County, Alabama

Abstract

Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) was integrated into a feral swine surveillance program to aid in monitoring feral swine in Macon County, Alabama. The program was initiated by the Wildlife Services division of the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Services of the United States Department of Agriculture. Feral swine were captured, humanely euthanized, and blood was collected for various serological analyses. The carcasses were then submitted to the TUCVM diagnostic laboratory for postmortem examination and tissues were collected for additional disease surveillance. This report highlights pathologic findings identified in 15 feral hogs captured from Macon County, Alabama between March 14, 2012 and April 16, 2013, and serves as a record of some of the diseases the feral swine in this area harbor. Some of the pertinent pathologic findings identified include pulmonary metastrongyliasis, pulmonary paragonimiasis and severe ectoparasitism.