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

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. A cross-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, selfprepared 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.