author(s)
M Das, R Laha and G Kharguria

abstract
To determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal (G.I.) protozoan parasitic infections in pigs of hilly region of Meghalaya, a total of 2574 fecal samples of pigs from different age groups <6 months (881 nos.), 6-12 months (857 nos.) and >12 months (836 nos.) were collected and examined by Sheather’s sucrose flotation, modified McMaster and Ziehl-Neelsen staining techniques. The overall prevalence of G.I. protozoan parasitic infections in pigs of hilly region of Meghalaya was 29.02%. Balantidium coli (39.36%), Entamoeba polecki (5.62%), Giardia sp. (2.54%), Cryptosporidium sp. (10.04%), Eimeria sp. (35.34%) and Isospora suis (7.10%) recorded. Highest and lowest infections was recorded in the month of December (34.42%) and March (17.96%), respectively. Season wise infection was recorded highest during rainy season (32.49%) followed by cool (31.93%), cold (25.50%) and hot (21.85%) season. Age wise, 31.56%, 35.01% and 20.22% infections were recorded in <6 months, 6-12 months and >12 months old pigs, respectively.