Prevalence, Intensity, and Risk Factors for Helminth Infections in Pigs in Menoua, Western Highlands of Cameroon, with Some Data on Protozoa

Helminthes affect satisfactory pig farming by causing poor growth rate and infertility. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of helminthes in pig production, as well as factors influencing their prevalence in Menoua, Western Highlands of Cameroon. Thus, 597 fecal samples fro...

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Main Authors: Marc K. Kouam, Fabrice D. Ngueguim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Journal of Parasitology Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9151294
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author Marc K. Kouam
Fabrice D. Ngueguim
author_facet Marc K. Kouam
Fabrice D. Ngueguim
author_sort Marc K. Kouam
collection DOAJ
description Helminthes affect satisfactory pig farming by causing poor growth rate and infertility. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of helminthes in pig production, as well as factors influencing their prevalence in Menoua, Western Highlands of Cameroon. Thus, 597 fecal samples from 100 farms of three production types (farrower, grower, and farrow-to-finish) were collected together with data on farmer and management characteristics. Samples were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. Eggs of eight helminthes were identified: Hyostrongylus rubidus (81.10%, 50-550 epg), Strongyloides ransomi (34.5%, 50-150 epg), Trichostrongylus sp. (28.1%, 50-650 epg), Ascaris suum (11.6%, 50-200 epg), Metastrongylus sp. (10.4%, 50-250 epg), Oesophagostomum dentatum (5.7%, 50-150 epg), Trichuris suis (4.0%, 50-150 epg), and Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus (0.2%, 50-50 epg). The overall prevalence was 89.3% (533 out of 597). Single infestations were 30.2%, while mixed infestations were 59.1%. A. suum, S. ransomi, and strongyles (H. rubidus, Trichostrongylus sp., Metastrongylus sp., and O. dentatum) were found in almost all age groups but the prevalence of A. suum increased with the growing age to drop in older animals. H. rubidus was found in all farm types followed by S. ransomi in farrower and farrow-to-finish farms. The other parasites were present only in farrow-to-finish farms. Coccidia parasites were also found including Isospora suis (26.30%, 50-12500 oocysts per gram of feces (opg)) and Eimeria spp. (1.40%, 100-100 opg). The risk of infestation for some parasites was lower with increasing herd size, high education level of farmers, and in wooden piggeries and semipermanent structures. The infestation risk was higher for all the investigated parasites for pigs escaping the pens. The overall significance of these parasites on growth and reproduction of the naturally infested pigs deserve assessment. Necropsy studies to confirm the worm burden are needed. Risk factors were identified, thus paving the way to design successful helminth control in pig production enterprises.
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spelling doaj-art-ae4ebdbd214f43b2a48f2a613c0c8ced2025-08-20T02:19:05ZengWileyJournal of Parasitology Research2090-00312022-01-01202210.1155/2022/9151294Prevalence, Intensity, and Risk Factors for Helminth Infections in Pigs in Menoua, Western Highlands of Cameroon, with Some Data on ProtozoaMarc K. Kouam0Fabrice D. Ngueguim1Department of Animal SciencesDepartment of Animal SciencesHelminthes affect satisfactory pig farming by causing poor growth rate and infertility. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of helminthes in pig production, as well as factors influencing their prevalence in Menoua, Western Highlands of Cameroon. Thus, 597 fecal samples from 100 farms of three production types (farrower, grower, and farrow-to-finish) were collected together with data on farmer and management characteristics. Samples were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. Eggs of eight helminthes were identified: Hyostrongylus rubidus (81.10%, 50-550 epg), Strongyloides ransomi (34.5%, 50-150 epg), Trichostrongylus sp. (28.1%, 50-650 epg), Ascaris suum (11.6%, 50-200 epg), Metastrongylus sp. (10.4%, 50-250 epg), Oesophagostomum dentatum (5.7%, 50-150 epg), Trichuris suis (4.0%, 50-150 epg), and Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus (0.2%, 50-50 epg). The overall prevalence was 89.3% (533 out of 597). Single infestations were 30.2%, while mixed infestations were 59.1%. A. suum, S. ransomi, and strongyles (H. rubidus, Trichostrongylus sp., Metastrongylus sp., and O. dentatum) were found in almost all age groups but the prevalence of A. suum increased with the growing age to drop in older animals. H. rubidus was found in all farm types followed by S. ransomi in farrower and farrow-to-finish farms. The other parasites were present only in farrow-to-finish farms. Coccidia parasites were also found including Isospora suis (26.30%, 50-12500 oocysts per gram of feces (opg)) and Eimeria spp. (1.40%, 100-100 opg). The risk of infestation for some parasites was lower with increasing herd size, high education level of farmers, and in wooden piggeries and semipermanent structures. The infestation risk was higher for all the investigated parasites for pigs escaping the pens. The overall significance of these parasites on growth and reproduction of the naturally infested pigs deserve assessment. Necropsy studies to confirm the worm burden are needed. Risk factors were identified, thus paving the way to design successful helminth control in pig production enterprises.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9151294
spellingShingle Marc K. Kouam
Fabrice D. Ngueguim
Prevalence, Intensity, and Risk Factors for Helminth Infections in Pigs in Menoua, Western Highlands of Cameroon, with Some Data on Protozoa
Journal of Parasitology Research
title Prevalence, Intensity, and Risk Factors for Helminth Infections in Pigs in Menoua, Western Highlands of Cameroon, with Some Data on Protozoa
title_full Prevalence, Intensity, and Risk Factors for Helminth Infections in Pigs in Menoua, Western Highlands of Cameroon, with Some Data on Protozoa
title_fullStr Prevalence, Intensity, and Risk Factors for Helminth Infections in Pigs in Menoua, Western Highlands of Cameroon, with Some Data on Protozoa
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence, Intensity, and Risk Factors for Helminth Infections in Pigs in Menoua, Western Highlands of Cameroon, with Some Data on Protozoa
title_short Prevalence, Intensity, and Risk Factors for Helminth Infections in Pigs in Menoua, Western Highlands of Cameroon, with Some Data on Protozoa
title_sort prevalence intensity and risk factors for helminth infections in pigs in menoua western highlands of cameroon with some data on protozoa
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9151294
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