Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Strongylid Infection in Sheep from Nziih, West Region of Cameroon

Aims: This study was aimed to describe the epidemiology of sheep gastrointestinal strongylid infection in Nziih, West Region of Cameroon as a necessary step to prevent the disease (strongylosis).

Study Design: A longitudinal prospective study.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Nziih locality between January and November 2019.

Methodology: 739 ovine dung were collected and questionnaires were administered in 6 reasoned selected farms to describe strongylid infection. For the qualitative examination, the floatation technique was used to detect the presence of strongylid eggs and the Mac Master technique was used for quantitative examination. Coprocultures were set to obtain the strongylid genera which were identified morphologically. Prevalence, intensity and number of infective larvae were compared using the Chi-square and the Kruskal Wallis tests respectively while the odds ratios were calculated to determine the risk factors.

Results: Out of the 739 faecal samples examined, 450 were found positive for gastrointestinal strongylids with an overall prevalence of 60.2% and a mean intensity of 884.67±1569.04 egg per gram of faeces. Deworming status, breeding sites and season are identified as the risk factors associated to infection in the locality. However, young animals were significantly (P<0.05) more infected (63.9%) than adults (57.4%) and Prevalence was significantly highest (P=0.000) in rainy season (85.8%) followed by the transition of wet season to the dry season (65.2%) and then to the dry season (49.0%). Trichostrongylus, Haemonchus, Oesophagostomum/Chabertia and Cooperia where the four genera found all the year round with a peak in the wet season. The genus of Trichostrongylus was the more prevalent followed by Haemonchus.

Conclusion: The present study shows that there is need to control ovine gastrointestinal strongylid in Nziih by a best management of farms, putting emphasis to a strategical program of deworming according to age, sites and season.