Journal
BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH
Volume 16, Issue 1, Pages -Publisher
BMC
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02657-0
Keywords
Coleoptera; Tenebrionidae; Tenebrio molitor; Insecta; Weaning pigs; Storage pest
Categories
Funding
- Minister of Science and Higher Education [010/RID/2018/19]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
BackgroundMealworm beetle T. molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) (Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most important cosmopolitan primary storage pests, scavenging on a variety of post-harvest grains and affecting the quality and safety of food and feed. In addition to being an important factor in feed hygiene, the insect can also be an epidemiological factor of canthariasis. Livestock infestations with T. molitor are rarely reported. This article describes T. molitor-caused canthariasis in pigs in large scale closed-cycle farming.ResultsIn the spring, we registered a significantly increased mortality among weaned pigs. In autopsy, live 3-6 mm long T. molitor larvae were found in their stomachs, especially in the non-glandular oesophageal region, on average 2-3 larvae per 10 cm(2) of gastric mucosa. Corrective actions reduced the number of deaths back to basal levels.ConclusionsThis is the first documented case of potentially lethal gastric canthariasis in weaned pigs, caused by invasion of T. molitor larvae. Although canthariasis caused by T. molitor has not been a significant problem in farm animals so far, our case indicates that the presence of mealworm beetles is a potential threat to animal welfare and health.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available