Cattle as Potential Reservoir for Parasitic Zoonotic Diseases in the Lower Manya Krobo District in the Eastern Region of Ghana

ABSTRACT

The transmission of zoonotic gastrointestinal parasites in cattle is dependent on the availability of intermediate hosts, poor sanitation and principally, the husbandry and management practices of cattle. The research work was aimed at studying cattle as reservoirs for parasitic zoonotic diseases in the Lower Manya Krobo District of southern Ghana. Microscopic examinations were done on stool samples to determine the prevalence and intensity of egg counts among cattle (N = 486) sampled at Akuse and Narhkorkpe cattle farms in the district. The overall prevalence of parasite egg infestation in Akuse was 14.2% while that of Narhkorkpe was 19.6 %. The observed difference in prevalence (5.4 % [-1.5 to 12.3]) of helminths in cattle sampled from Akuse and Narhkorkpe by Chi-squared test was not significant (χ² (1) = 2.52; P = 0.1123). Using morphological characteristics, four genera of helminth eggs were identified. Also, four genera of helminths were identified as follows: Cooparia spp., Heamonchus spp., Hookworm and Trichostrongylus spp. Hookworm and Trichostrongylus spp. were the dominant helminth species in the farms of both study communities with prevalence’s of 21.5 % and 14.2 % respectively for Akuse and 16.7 % and 19.6 % respectively for Narhkorkpe. The highest median hookworm egg intensity count of 250 eggs/gram in Akuse and 550 egg/gram in Narhkorkpe were observed. Significantly higher median egg intensity of hookworm was recorded in cattle from Narhkorkpe farms (550 eggs/gram) compared with that cattle (250 eggs/gram) from Akuse using Mood’s median test [P = 0.003]. Quarterly anthelmintic treatment may be appropriately used to minimize the possibility of re-infection and development of resistance. This study provides some data that could serve as a basis for development of effective management and control guidelines of potential cattle zoonoses for stakeholders in the cattle industry, particularly farmers and the veterinary officers.