PREVALÊNCIA DE DOENÇAS INFECCIOSAS EM REBANHO DE SUÍNOS CRIADOS AO AR LIVRE NA REGIÃO SUDOESTE DO PARANÁ, BRASIL

The aim of this work was to determine the prevalence of infectious diseases in an outdoor pig herd in the South-western region of Parana, Brazil, from October 1996 to June 1999. A total of 969 animals were examined. All infections observed were registered. All animals found dead within the period of study and one piglet of each litter sacrified on the 28th post weaning day were autopsied. Blood samples were collected for Aujeszky, parvovirus, leptospirosis and brucellosis serological tests. Faecal samples from piglets with diarrhoea were taken for bacteriological tests. Crushing was the main cause of outdoor suckling piglets mortality. The prevalence of infectious diseases was not high. The most frequent occurrence in suckling piglets was diarrhoea. The pneumonia index in the herd raised outdoors was low. There was no occurrence of reproductive infectious diseases.