Prevalence and risk factors associated with gastrointestinal helminth infections in the Mt Elgon subregion: A cross sectional study in Bulambuli District, Eastern Uganda

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background</bold> Gastrointestinal helminths are considerable constraints in cattle farming in Sub-Saharan Africa causing significant ill health and economic losses to rural communities. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with gastrointestinal helminths in cattle in Bulambuli District, Eastern Uganda.<bold>Methods</bold> A cross-sectional study was conducted on 324 randomly sampled cattle from April 2022 to July 2023 in Bulambuli District. Fecal and blood samples collected were analysed via a combination of simple floatation, sedimentation, and haematocrit centrifugation techniques. Data on sociodemographic characteristics were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.<bold>Results</bold> Overall, 197 (60.8%) cattle were positive for gastrointestinal helminth infections. Thirteen helminth species were identified; <italic>Cooperia punctata (</italic>20%), <italic>Ostertagia ostertatagi, (</italic>18%), and <italic>Haemonchus contortus (</italic>18%) were the predominant species. Thirty nine (12.0%) cattle had mixed infections mainly of Cooperia spp and Paramphistomum spp (13.8%). Ninety-one, (28.1%) cattle had mono-infections with Ostertagia species being the most predominant species. The variables significantly associated with helminthic infections were; keeping crossbred cattle; (AOR = 1.8 [95%CI = 1.2–1.8], <italic>p</italic> = 0.01), delayed cleaning of barns (AOR = 4.89 [95%Cl = 2.66-9.0], <italic>p</italic> = 0.01) and overcrowding (AOR = 3.12[95%Cl = 155 − 6.3], <italic>p</italic> = 0.01). All the key informants agreed that environment, poor management practices, and breed were key factors that could influence GIHs infections among cattle in Bulambuli district.<bold>Conclusion</bold> Cattle in Bulambuli have high levels of helmithic infections, presenting a big threat to the health of animals and economic productivity of communities in the district. There is need to design and implement tailored control strategies that take into account the identified risk factors to mitigate the health risks and economic losses resulting from GIH infections in the Mt Elgon subregion.