Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Sheep and Goats of Bui and Donga-Mantung Divisions of the North West Region of Cameroon

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, intensity of infection and management systems associated with gastrointestinal parasites in small ruminants (sheep and goats) from 12 villages in the Bui and Donga-Mantung Divisions for a period of one year.

Methods: A total of 704 stool samples were collected from 321 sheep (153 males and 168 females) and 383 goats (189 males and 194 females) consisting of 463 adults and 241 young (kids/lambs). These animals aged 5 months to 7 years were examined for gastrointestinal parasites. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of stool samples were carried out using the McMaster technique.

Results: Of the 704 stool samples examined, 630 samples were found positive with one or more gastrointestinal parasites giving an overall prevalence of 89.5%. Sheep recorded the highest prevalence (90.0%) contrary to 89.0% in goats. Nine types of nematode eggs and a single protozoan oocyst were identified. In sheep, Haemonchus species (18.7%) and Trichostrongylus species (13.7%) recorded the highest prevalence while in goats, Strongyloides species (10.4%) and Trichuris species (2.4%) recorded the least prevalence. Mixed infections of Haemonchus species and Eimeria species were most prevalent in sheep 64(19.9%) than in goats 26(6.8%) while mixed infections of Trichostrongylus sp./Strongyloides sp/Eimeria sp were least prevalent in goats 8(2.1% ) than in sheep 5(1.5%). In the two types of animals, mean intensity for Haemonchus species was higher in goats (694.4 ±1904.2) than in sheep (189.5±137.3). In sheep, adults were more infected 198 (94.3%) than the young 91(82.0%) while in goats, adults were still the most infected 227 (89.7%) compared to the young 114(87.7%). Generally, adults were the most infected (91.8%) compared to the young (85.5%) ruminants but with no significant difference (P>0.05). Based on sex, male sheep recorded the highest prevalence (93.5%), followed by male goats (91.0%). Female goats and sheep recorded prevalence of 87.1% and 86.9% respectively. However, the overall prevalence of infection in the different sexes generally showed that, male animals were the most infected (92.1%) than the female animals (87.0%) with no significant difference (P>0.05). Concerning the various management techniques, prevalence of was higher in free range grazing animals (95.5%), followed by tethered animals (84.5%) while animals confined in paddocks had a low prevalence (76.8%).

Conclusion: This study indicates a very high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in sheep and goats of Bui and Donga-Mantung Divisions. From these results, it is very urgent and important to sensitize the farmers of these areas on good rearing techniques, they should use strategic methods like some medicinal plants that can be used to reduce the infection rate and finally to put in place a campaign that will help in the deworming of these animals in these Divisions thereby reducing economic losses.