Occurrence of gastrointestinal parasite infections and their association with diarrhoea and anaemia in grazing sheep in the Bamboutos Division, West Cameroon

Gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs) are among the most important production-limiting diseases of sheep worldwide. This study aimed to explore the occurrence of GIPs in grazing sheep and to examine their association with diarrhoea and anaemia in the Bamboutos Division, West Region of Cameroon. A cross-sectional field survey was carried out from April 2022 to February 2023, covering both rainy and dry seasons, on 504 sheep characterised by sex and age group. Faecal samples were collected per rectum from 308 sheep during the rainy season and 196 during the dry season. Samples were stored at 4 °C and processed within 72 h using the Mini-FLOTAC technique with saturated NaCl as the flotation solution. Blood samples were collected via jugular venipuncture for haemoglobin estimation using the acid haematin (Sahli) method. Out of the 504 faecal samples examined, 411 (81.54%) were positive for at least one gastrointestinal parasite. Twelve species were identified: Eimeria spp. (33.1%), Haemonchus contortus (27.8%), Trichostrongylus spp. (15.1%), Strongyloides papillosus (12.3%), Moniezia expanza (9.1%), Oesophagostomum spp. (8.7%), Moniezia benedeni (3%), Cooperia spp. (2.4%), Chabertia spp. (2.4%), Bunostomum spp. (0.4%), Nematodirus spp. (0.4%), and Trichuris spp. (0.2%). Diarrhoea was recorded in 22 (4.4%) examined sheep, and anaemia in 61 (12.1%). On multivariable analysis, GIP infection, Djallonké breed, and rainy season had significantly increased odds of diarrhoea. GIP infection, age group, and climate season were identified as factors associated with anaemia. Gastrointestinal parasites are highly prevalent in grazing sheep in the Bamboutos Division and are significantly associated with anaemia. Improving livestock management and parasite control strategies is recommended to limit productivity losses due to GIPs.