Zoonotic gastrointestinal protozoans of the pig. Bibliographic review

Abstract

This study delved into the enteric protozoa of swine, their importance in swine production and as zoonoses. The lack of knowledge about them is a major problem facing pig production, mostly in backyard conditions associated with a low socio-cultural and sanitary level, the easy transmission between conspecifics and also to humans, producing economic losses and compromising human health in favorable hygienic conditions for the development of diseases. Searches were made in Scopus, Web of Science, Redalyc, EBSCO, Scielo and Google Scholar databases. A combination of search terms such as ("Protozoa" OR "gastrointestinal" OR "Zoonosis") AND ("Swine") AND ("Importance") and descriptors such as "Incidence" "Prevalence", "Pathogenesis", "Transmission" were used. The bibliography consulted showed that Balantidiosis and Cryptosporidiosis are among the most common gastrointestinal diseases produced by protozoa in pigs, causing infections at this level and transmission to humans through the consumption of contaminated food or water, direct contact with infected pigs and environmental contamination. The bibliography consulted showed that Balantidiosis and Cryptosporidiosis are among the most common gastrointestinal diseases caused by protozoa in pigs, causing infections at this level and transmission to humans through the consumption of contaminated food or water, direct contact with infected pigs and environmental contamination.  The research reflected the wide worldwide distribution given in good measure by the resistance of these protozoa to adverse environmental conditions, direct and indirect transmission, vulnerability in immunologically and socioeconomically sensitive human populations, as well as economic losses in the swine industry. The paper concludes by reflecting on the impact of gastrointestinal protozoa on swine and public health, with the need to raise human awareness on hygienic sanitary measures and safe food and water consumption