Gastrointestinal parasite infections in small ruminants relative to host sex, age and husbandry system under the guinea savannah vegetation

Despite raising animals mostly as scavengers in the guinea savannah zone of Ghana, there is still scanty scientific information on the effects of this system on the health of these animals. A study was conducted to document factors influencing the prevalence rate of gastrointestinal (GIT) parasites and their loads in 500 small ruminants (250 each of sheep and goats). Prevalence rate of about 86% was recorded in small ruminants. Sheep, however, had higher (P<0.05) overall GIT parasite burden than goats. In sheep, significantly (P<0.05) more females harboured strongyles than males. Similarly, tapeworm and GIT parasites in general, were more prevalent (P<0.05) in younger than older sheep. Strongyle population was higher (P<0.05) in growers than adults, while Eimeria spp populations were higher (P<0.05) in lambs and adults than growers. The overall GIT parasite load, however, was higher (P<0.05) in lambs than all other age groups. In goats, Eimeria spp infections, coinfections of Strongyloides spp/Eimeria spp, tapeworm/Emeria spp, and overall GIT parasite load were much higher (P<0.05) in the extensive than the semi-intensive systems of management. The overall parasite population was also higher (P<0.05) in growers than adults and kids. Coinfections of tapeworm/ Strongyloides spp increased (P<0.05) with increasing age. The prevalence rate of GIT parasites in small ruminants is high. However, higher GIT parasite burden was found in sheep than goats. Younger small ruminants and goats kept in the extensive system of management are more prone to GIT parasite infestation than those kept in the semi-intensive system and older ones, respectively.