EPIZOOTIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF STEPHANURUS DENTATUS NEMATODE IN SWINE

Stephanuriosis is a disease of the urinary tract of both domestic pigs and wild boars occurring in tropical and subtropical regions, with a tendency to spread to other geographical areas. In endemic areas, the disease occurs more often in extensively bred herds, normally with nonspecific clinical picture. As a result of larval stage migrations and parasitism of adult forms of nematode Stephanurus dentatus, the damage occurs in the liver, kidneys, ureters, lungs, pancreas and perirenal adipose tissue. Damage to the liver is reminiscent of lesions caused by Ascaris suum, which is of particular clinical significance for differential diagnosis of parasitic swine diseases. Stephanurus dentatus is of great economic importance due to direct and indirect damage it causes. Infected animals delay in reaching market weight, their meat is declared unfit for consumption, and they are sent to forced slaughter. Examinations of potential presence of this parasite in Serbia should include populations of wild boars and domestic pigs from extensive traditional breeding outdoors. After intense climate changes that have occurred in recent decades, and also due to the possibility of importing infected animals from endemic areas, the proposed research would have both epizootiological and clinical significance