Gastric canthariasis caused by invasion of mealworm beetle larvae in weaned pigs in large-scale farming
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Open Access
Gastric canthariasis caused by invasion of mealworm beetle larvae in weaned pigs in large-scale farming Remigiusz Gałęcki1* , Mirosław Mariusz Michalski2, Karol Wierzchosławski3 and Tadeusz Bakuła1
Abstract Background: Mealworm 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. Results: In 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 cm2 of gastric mucosa. Corrective actions reduced the number of deaths back to basal levels. Conclusions: This 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. Keywords: Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Tenebrio molitor, Insecta, Weaning pigs, Storage pest
Background Worldwide increase of meat consumption and animal production causes growing demand for plant-derived feed. In Poland, the production of industrial feed has been initially expected to amount to almost 12 million tons in 2019 [1]. Obviously, the nutritional value of feed is the paramount factor in proper development and fast growth of farm animals [2], but feed hygiene and biological safety are not less important. Storage pests are among the most significant biotic threats to agricultural yield and safety. Approximately 5–10% of grain are lost * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 13st, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
during storage due to toxins from microflora and direct damage by pest insects. Grain insects are generally divided into primary (attacking whole, unbroken grains) and secondary (infesting damaged grain, milled products and dust). Adult insects can survive for up to 3 years, and 4 or even 6 generations can develop under favorable conditions on heated premises [3]. One of the secondary pests, the mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor) is a common cosmopolitan pest in European grain warehouses, feed factories, mills, etc., scavenging on a variety of postharvest grains. It is one of the largest beetles (up to 15.5 mm) with the complete metamorphosis
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