Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites and Associated Haematological Changes in Pigs in Ejisu-Juaben Municipality, Kumasi, Ghana

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Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites and Associated Haematological Changes in Pigs in Ejisu-Juaben Municipality, Kumasi, Ghana
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Published: Apr 22, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/njpar.v47i1.16
Keywords:
Gastrointestinal parasites, pigs, haematological changes, Ghana

Main Article Content

J. N. A. Otoo
Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana.
J. Osei-Mensah
Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana.
D. A. Asare
Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana.
E. Onidje
Pan African University Life and Earth Institute (Including Health and Agriculture), PAULESI, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
B. O. Emikpe
Department of Pathobiology

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism is a major constraint in pig production, particularly in tropical regions such as Ghana, where environmental conditions favour parasite transmission. Despite the economic significance of pig farming in the Ashanti Region, data on parasite prevalence and its associated health impacts are limited. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites and assess the associated haematological changes in pigs within the Ejisu and Juaben Municipalities of the Ashanti Region, Ghana. Across-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2024, involving 127 pigs randomly sampled from nine farms. Faecal samples were analysed using flotation and McMaster techniques for parasite detection and egg count, while blood samples underwent haematological profiling using an automated haematology analyser. Farm management practices were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square and t-tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. The overall prevalence of GI parasites was 68.5%, with Eimeria spp. (33.1%) and Strongyloides spp. (16.8%) was the most common. Mixed infections occurred in 17.5% of cases. Eimeria spp. recorded the highest mean egg count (2066.67 ± 2618.20 EPG), followed by Ascaris suum (1350.00 ± 1057.83 EPG) and Strongyloides spp. (605.56 ± 623.53 EPG). Landrace pigs had significantly higher infection rates (89.7%) than Large White pigs (34.7%) (p < 0.001). Significant haematological changes included lower mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) values in infected pigs, indicating possible hypochromic anaemia (p = 0.000). Key farm-related factors included larger herd size, self-prepared feed, and multi-species farming systems, while age (OR = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.05–0.61, p = 0.0065) and breed of pigs (OR = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.01–0.14, p < 0.0001) were the main risk factors for gastrointestinal parasite occurrence in this study. These findings underscore the need for enhanced parasite control strategies, targeted farmer education, and improvements in breeding, housing, feeding, and biosecurity practices.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 47 No. 1 (2026): March
Section
Main Issues
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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