Epidemiological Assessment of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Livestock at Techiman Slaughterhouse, Ghana: A One Health Perspective

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Abattoir-based surveillance offers a practical means to monitor infection patterns and associated food safety risks. This study assessed the prevalence and types of gastrointestinal parasites in livestock slaughtered at the Techiman Metropolitan Abattoir in Ghana within the One Health framework. Methods A total of 341 faecal samples were randomly collected from cattle, sheep, and goats immediately after evisceration between December 2021 and May 2022. Of these, 327 were processed and analyzed due to the loss of data for 14 samples. Flotation and sedimentation parasitological techniques were employed to detect helminth eggs and protozoan cysts, including those of nematodes and cestodes. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to determine prevalence and associations between infection and host species. Results The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths among the examined livestock was 52.0%. Specifically, 33.3% of samples tested positive for Strongyle ova, 11.6% for Moniezia spp, and mixed infections were observed in 7.0% of samples. Nearly half (48.0%) of the samples showed no detectable ova. Cattle constituted the majority of slaughtered species, followed by sheep and goats. There was a significant association (p < 0.05) between host species and parasite prevalence. Conclusion The high burden of gastrointestinal parasites detected at slaughter highlights substantial risks for livestock productivity and meat safety. Strengthening slaughterhouse hygiene, implementing species-specific parasite control programmes, and enhancing integrated abattoir surveillance within Ghana’s One Health system are urgently recommended. Gastrointestinal parasites Livestock Abattoir surveillance One Health Meat safety Techiman Figures Figure 1 INTRODUCTION Gastrointestinal parasitic infections in livestock remain a significant global concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Ghana, where animal husbandry is crucial for food security, rural livelihoods, and public health. In [ 1 ], Helminth infections, including nematodes ( Strongyle spp.), cestodes ( Moniezia spp.), and trematodes, are among the most prevalent parasitic threats to ruminants such as cattle, goats, and sheep. These infections impair growth rates, reduce milk and meat yields, compromise reproductive efficiency, and elevate mortality rates, especially in young and immunocompromised animals [2;3]. The economic implications are profound; gastrointestinal parasites alone cost the global ruminant livestock industry billions of dollars annually through productivity losses, increased veterinary costs, and reduced market value [ 3 ]. From a public health perspective, the presence of gastrointestinal parasites in livestock raises zoonotic concerns [ 4 ]. According to [ 9 ], several helminths have the potential to be transmitted to humans directly or indirectly through contaminated meat [5; 6], soil [ 7 ], water [ 8 ], or fomites. [10; 11; 12] described, these zoonotic transmissions can result in significant health challenges in vulnerable populations, including anaemia, malnutrition, and compromised immune responses, particularly among children and pregnant women. [13; 14] stated that slaughterhouses and abattoirs, especially in LMICs with limited regulatory oversight, serve as crucial nodes in the epidemiology of parasitic infections and act as both indicators and amplifiers of disease risks. In Ghana, livestock production contributes approximately 14% to the agricultural GDP and remains an important livelihood activity for smallholder farmers [15;16]. However, challenges such as poor veterinary infrastructure [ 17 ], limited access to anthelmintics [ 18 ], and inadequate abattoir hygiene [ 14 ] affect food or meat hygiene. The Bono East Region, and specifically the Techiman Metropolitan, hosts one of the busiest livestock markets and slaughterhouses in the country [ 19 ], as it serves as the centre of trade for Ghanaians and other parts of West Africa like Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire and the rest. Yet, there is limited systematic data on parasitic infections among slaughtered livestock, leaving a gap in evidence-based animal health interventions and zoonotic disease surveillance. The Techiman Slaughterhouse (TS) processes large volumes of cattle, sheep, and goats daily, sourced from both local and transboundary livestock markets, according to the annual report from [ 20 ]. Such concentrated animal processing, without appropriate health screening and sanitary measures, elevates the risk of parasitic spread and zoonotic transmission [ 21 ]. Previous international studies have shown that poor slaughterhouse hygiene and unregulated meat inspection are major risk factors for the introduction of parasitic infections into the human food chain [22; 23]. Despite this, few studies in West Africa have rigorously examined the parasitological burden in slaughterhouse settings, hindering efforts to prioritize parasite control in national public health agendas. This study, therefore, aims to evaluate the prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in faecal samples from livestock processed at the TS. The findings will provide critical data for strengthening veterinary surveillance, informing public health risk mitigation strategies, and contributing to national and regional goals on zoonotic disease prevention in line with the One Health framework [10; 13]. Ultimately, this research will support the development of context-appropriate interventions that enhance livestock productivity, reduce economic losses, and safeguard human health. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Area The Techiman Slaughterhouse is situated in the Techiman Metropolitan (TM) of the Bono East Region in Ghana, an area dominated by an agrarian economy. There are mixed farming systems where livestock rearing is part of the local economy, according to [ 15 ]. The climate in Techiman is tropical, characterized by a wet season from March to October and a dry season from November to February [ 24 ], which influences the prevalence and spread of parasitic infections among livestock. The slaughterhouse is close to the livestock market and also serves as the central point for processing animals from various farms and people around the area, making it an ideal location for assessing the parasitic burden in livestock in this region. Sample Collection A total of 341 faecal samples were collected from sheep, goats, and cattle and processed at the TS. After initial sorting, 327 samples were selected for detailed analysis. Sampling was done from December 2021 to May 2022 to ensure the sample obtained was representative of the animals slaughtered within the period covering equal months in both wet and dry seasons. The animals were randomly selected to prevent bias in sampling and involved putting in efforts to ensure animals from different age sets, sexes, and breeds were included. Faecal samples were then collected from the rectum directly in the morning between 5 am to 8 am upon each visit, of each animal using sterile gloves and placed into labelled, airtight containers (to prevent contamination and secure sample integrity); this was done according to [ 25 ]. The samples were then transported in cool boxes to the Disease Investigation Farm and Regional Veterinary Laboratory for analysis within 24 hours of collection. Laboratory Analysis Upon arrival at the laboratory, the faecal samples were stored at 4°C until processing. The parasitological examination adopted both qualitative techniques that identified the parasites found in the samples [3;22]. The methods applied for the detection of nematode eggs, cestode eggs, and protozoan oocysts were flotation techniques, while the sedimentation technique was applied in detecting trematode eggs [ 21 ]. In the flotation technique, saturated salt solution (Sodium chloride) served as the flotation medium, and the samples were viewed under a light microscope at 10× and 40× magnification [26; 27]. Sedimentation was carried out using a standard method whereby water was added to the stool, followed by centrifugation and subsequent examination for trematode eggs in the sediment [ 28 ]. For the identification of the parasite, the morphological features were used as they are described in the standard parasitology texts [ 29 ]. A second parasitologist's quality control of a sub-sample was done as quality control. Data Analysis Data entry and cleaning were conducted using Microsoft Excel, followed by analysis with IBM SPSS Statistics version 25 and R version 4.3.1. Initially, descriptive statistics were calculated to ascertain the frequencies and percentages of parasitic infections categorized by species, sex, age group, and animal origin. Prevalence was determined using the formula adapted from [30; 31], expressed as: Prevalence = \(\:\frac{\text{T}\text{o}\text{t}\text{a}\text{l}\:\text{n}\text{u}\text{m}\text{b}\text{e}\text{r}\:\text{o}\text{f}\:\text{p}\text{o}\text{s}\text{i}\text{t}\text{i}\text{v}\text{e}\:\text{w}\text{o}\text{r}\text{m}\left(\text{s}\right)/\text{s}\text{a}\text{m}\text{p}\text{l}\text{e}\:\text{i}\text{d}\text{e}\text{n}\text{t}\text{i}\text{f}\text{y}}{\text{T}\text{o}\text{t}\text{a}\text{l}\:\text{s}\text{a}\text{m}\text{p}\text{l}\text{e}\left(\text{s}\right)\:\text{a}\text{n}\text{a}\text{l}\text{y}\text{s}\text{i}\text{s}}\) ×100. Pearson’s chi-square tests (χ²) were employed to explore potential associations between categorical variables (species, sex, age, origin) and parasitic infection status, with statistical significance set at a p-value < 0.05. The 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) for prevalence estimates were calculated using the binomial exact method, offering a range within which the true population parameter is expected to reside with 95% confidence. To further evaluate risk factors for parasitic infections, binary logistic regression was conducted. The dependent variable was infection status (positive or negative), while species, sex, age group, and origin served as independent variables. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% CIs were reported to estimate the likelihood of infection associated with each factor, controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS Among the livestock raised and slaughtered in Ghana, only three of them, namely: Bovine (Cattle), Caprine (Goat) and Ovine (Sheep), were slaughtered at TS. Others, like Pigs, are slaughtered because more than 90% of the workers are Muslim. Demographics of Slaughtered Animals From Table 1 , among the livestock species that were slaughtered, Bovine (cattle) accounted for the majority of the samples, 85.3%, followed by Ovine (sheep) 11.3% and Caprine (goats) 3.4%. Of the infected animals, 42.2% were cattle, 6.2% were sheep, and 2.4% were goats, as shown in Table 2 . Figure 1 also provided variation in the age, with the seven (7) years being the oldest animal slaughtered. Table 2 shows that goats exhibited the highest proportion of infection, the p-value (0.065) and chi-square (5.47) slightly exceeded the conventional threshold for statistical significance (p < 0.05). This indicates a trend towards statistical significance, suggesting that further investigation with a larger sample of goats is warranted. Table 1 Demographics of Slaughtered Animals Species Variable Frequency Percentage (%) Bovine 279 85.3 Caprine 11 3.4 Ovine 37 11.3 Sex Male 120 36.7 Female 207 63.3 Breed Black Bengal 1 0.3 Cross Breed 29 8.9 Gudali 23 7 N'dama 39 11.9 Nungua Black Head 5 1.5 Sahilion 7 2.3 Uda 2 0.6 West African Dwarf 21 6.5 White Fulani 110 33.6 Zebu 90 27.6 Origin Banda Nkanta 19 5.8 Bawku 3 0.9 Buipe 161 49.2 Chiraa 2 0.6 Gulu 16 4.9 Niger 2 0.6 Nsuta 1 0.3 Seko 1 0.3 Sunyani 3 0.9 Tamale 26 8.1 Tanaso 2 0.6 Techiman 44 13.5 Techiman (Sheep and Farm Market) 41 12.5 Yeipi 5 1.5 Zongo 1 0.3 Table 2 Infection Status of Slaughtered Animals Species Negative Percentage (%) Positive Percentage (%) Cattle 141 43.1 138 42.2 Goat 3 0.9 8 2.4 Sheep 17 5.2 20 6.2 Prevalence of Parasitic Infections Table 3 revealed the following results that out of the 327 samples, 48% (157) had no ova found while 33.3% (109) of the faecal samples had Strongyle Ova , followed by 11.6% (38) were with Moniezia Expansa , and 7% (23) were with both Strongyle and Moniezia Expansa . Table 3 Prevalence of Parasitic Infections found in the faecal samples Kind of Ova Found Frequency (n) Prevalence (%) Strongyle Ova 109 33.3 Moniezia spp. 38 11.6 Both Strongyle and Moniezia spp. 23 7.0 No Ova 157 48.0 Risk Factors for Parasitic Infections The analysis in Table 4 revealed that goats exhibited a significantly higher likelihood of infection compared to cattle, with an odds ratio (OR) of 9.62 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18–78.41, p < 0.05). Although other variables such as sex, age, and origin did not demonstrate statistically significant associations, they may hold relevance in multivariate models. Table 4 Binary logistic regression of risk factors for parasitic infections Variable Odds Ratio (AOR) 95% CI Lower 95% CI Upper Significance Intercept 0.86 0.57 1.29 Goat vs. Cattle 9.62 1.18 78.41 p < 0.05 Sheep vs. Cattle 1.10 0.56 2.16 ns Male vs. Female 1.21 0.76 1.92 ns Old vs. Young 1.83 0.99 3.39 ns Adult vs. Young 1.03 0.61 1.74 ns Rural vs. Urban origin 0.96 0.59 1.58 ns ns: not demonstrate statistically significant associations DISCUSSION This study offers critical insights into the parasitic burden among livestock at the TS. It reveals a high overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites, with Strongyle spp. and Moniezia spp. being the most commonly identified helminths. The overall infection prevalence of 52.0% aligns with reports from similar abattoir-based studies in sub-Saharan Africa, where inadequate anthelmintic practices and environmental contamination increase livestock exposure to infective stages of parasites [3;21]. The prevalence of Strongyle ova at 33.3% corroborates previous findings by [ 2 ], who reported high strongyle egg loads among extensively grazed ruminants in tropical regions. This suggests that prevailing grazing systems and the lack of rotational pasturing in Techiman likely contribute to heavy pasture contamination. Furthermore, the detection of Moniezia spp. in 11.6% of samples corroborates the observations of [ 22 ], who noted that tapeworm infections are common in sheep and goats under traditional systems where intermediate hosts (oribatid mites) are abundant due to poor pasture hygiene. A notable and novel finding in this study was the disproportionately high odds of infection observed among goats compared to cattle, with goats being nearly ten times more likely to be infected (AOR = 9.62, 95% CI: 1.18–78.41, p < 0.05). This observation contrasts with some studies that have reported higher helminth burdens in cattle due to their longer lifespan and greater exposure to contaminated environments [ 32 ]. However, the higher prevalence in goats may be attributable to their typically lower priority in veterinary care among mixed farmers in Ghana and their browsing behaviour, which may inadvertently expose them to intermediate parasite hosts on shrubs and contaminated surfaces [ 25 ]. Although sheep also exhibited notable infection rates, no statistically significant association was observed when compared to cattle. The lack of significance may be attributed to the smaller sample sizes for sheep and goats, which limit statistical power. Similar trends were reported by [33; 34], who observed high variability in parasitic prevalence in small ruminants depending on the geographical setting and husbandry practices. Interestingly, no significant association was found between infection status and sex, age group, or geographical origin of the animals. This contradicts the work of [ 35 ], who identified age and sex as significant predictors of helminth infection, with younger and female animals being more susceptible. The current findings suggest that in the Techiman context, exposure to infective stages may be uniformly high across demographic categories due to shared environmental and management conditions. These results reinforce the importance of species-targeted parasite control strategies and highlight the role of slaughterhouses as critical surveillance points for endemic parasitic diseases. The borderline significance observed in the chi-square test for species (p = 0.065) further emphasizes the need for larger sample sizes and regular monitoring to better detect interspecies differences and transmission dynamics. From a public health perspective, these findings raise concerns about the zoonotic potential of slaughterhouse-associated parasites. While Strongyle spp. and Moniezia spp. are typically not directly zoonotic [ 36 ], their presence indicates poor animal health management, which may facilitate the persistence of other zoonotic pathogens in the environment [15; 21]. CONCLUSION This study provides a detailed parasitological profile of livestock slaughtered at the TS in Ghana, revealing a substantial prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths, notably Strongyle spp. and Moniezia spp.. The findings indicate species-specific variations in infection risk, with goats exhibiting significantly higher odds of parasitic infection compared to cattle. This emphasizes the urgent necessity for targeted parasite control strategies, particularly among small ruminants, which are frequently under-prioritized in veterinary health programs. The lack of significant associations with sex, age group, and animal origin suggests that the parasitic burden is pervasive across livestock demographics, likely due to shared risk factors such as inadequate anthelmintic use, unsanitary abattoir conditions, and limited veterinary interventions. These results underscore the role of slaughterhouses as sentinel surveillance points for endemic and emerging parasitic infections, offering a strategic opportunity to enhance public health and animal health integration through the One Health approach. To mitigate the burden of parasitic infections and improve meat safety, the implementation of regular faecal screening, species-specific deworming protocols, and enhanced biosecurity measures at slaughter facilities is recommended. Additionally, expanding parasitological monitoring and investing in education for livestock handlers can contribute to the development of sustainable systems for parasite control. Future research should investigate seasonal variations in parasite prevalence, conduct molecular identification of parasites to improve diagnostic precision, and assess resistance to commonly used anthelmintics. Such studies will contribute to more effective, evidence-based policies for livestock health management and food safety in Ghana and similar contexts. Declarations Ethical Considerations Faecal sampling was conducted during routine slaughter operations with no live-animal handling. Activities fell under the statutory responsibilities of the Disease Investigation Farm and Regional Veterinary Laboratory. Acknowledgements We are grateful to the staff of the Techiman Disease Investigation Farm and Regional Veterinary Laboratory for their assistance with sample collection and analysis. Special thanks to the Techiman Metropolitan Veterinary Clinic Department for allowing access to the slaughterhouse facilities. Thank you to everyone who helped make this study a success. Consent to Publish declaration Not applicable Conflict of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this study. Funding Sources No external funding was received. All costs were covered by the authors. Authors’ Contributions PKD: Conceptualization, fieldwork, laboratory analysis, drafting NYAB: Data analysis, literature review, manuscript revision HDF: Statistical analysis, methodology development SB: Field sample collection and logistics MANL: Access facilitation and project support All authors approved the final manuscript. Data Availability The data supporting this study's findings are available upon request from the corresponding author. References Zajac AM, Conboy GA (2012) Veterinary clinical parasitology, 8th edn. Wiley-Blackwell Bricarello PA, Longo C, da Rocha RA, Hötzel MJ (2023) Understanding Animal-Plant-Parasite Interactions to Improve the Management of Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Grazing Ruminants. 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Vet Parasitol 144(1–2):118–124 Amissah-Reynolds PK, Yamoah JA, Ofori S, Kongkuah C, Agyei V, Abonie S, Effah-Yeboah E, Danquah JB (2024) Zoonotic parasites from dogs in different agroecological zones in Ghana. J Ghana Sci Assoc 21:81–90 Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8117981","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":550213973,"identity":"6bd94ebe-6932-41f8-866e-a9cda4ac4d5b","order_by":0,"name":"Prince Kyere Dwaah","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABAUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDACHgYDIHlADsZnbGCAiBDUYgzhJZCgJbGBaC3mPIe3SfyouZPe3346TfLnDxvZBvbmbRIMv+7g1GLZ21Ym2XPsWe6MM7nbpHkS0owbeI6VSTD2PcOpxeA8j9kNHrbDuQ0HgFoYEg4nNkjkmEkw9hzGq+Xmn3+H0+XPv90m+SPhf2KD/BsCWs72mN3mbTucYHAjd5sETwIwHCR4zCQYfuDWYtlzrPy3bN9hw4033m625klLNm7jSSu2SGzArcWcJ3mz4Ztvh+XlzuduvPnDxk62n/3wxhsf/uBxGIYIG4hIbMOpA4sWCPiDW8soGAWjYBSMOAAAwqNhGL1HbJYAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Veterinary Service Directorate","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Prince","middleName":"Kyere","lastName":"Dwaah","suffix":""},{"id":550213974,"identity":"bd5323f6-56cc-4598-a7c3-414f8f0e3e39","order_by":1,"name":"Nana Yaa Awua-Boateng","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skill Training and Entrepreneurial Development","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Nana","middleName":"Yaa","lastName":"Awua-Boateng","suffix":""},{"id":550213975,"identity":"1eb47cea-6a0c-44eb-8707-00ad5b237b43","order_by":2,"name":"Helen Djang-Fordjour","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Sunyani Technical University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Helen","middleName":"","lastName":"Djang-Fordjour","suffix":""},{"id":550213976,"identity":"21768038-2dda-42fb-9472-f9022abc1dbe","order_by":3,"name":"Solomon Bakyaayele","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Development Studies","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Solomon","middleName":"","lastName":"Bakyaayele","suffix":""},{"id":550213977,"identity":"d9eb5abd-7767-4437-8e94-cf0dfc1a8821","order_by":4,"name":"Mohammed Abdul-Nafiw Leppode","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Development Studies","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mohammed","middleName":"Abdul-Nafiw","lastName":"Leppode","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-11-14 20:23:14","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8117981/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8117981/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":96783002,"identity":"6e8781ad-1591-4a19-8f35-aff2d4e51694","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-26 05:01:22","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":32576,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAge of slaughtered animal\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8117981/v1/d2b07264ddf536625c6b33da.png"},{"id":97135577,"identity":"a82c6282-2381-4d77-8dbd-57f3d63f3812","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-01 09:51:34","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":860045,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8117981/v1/f5760539-b40d-495a-8ce4-47525605a2d8.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Epidemiological Assessment of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Livestock at Techiman Slaughterhouse, Ghana: A One Health Perspective","fulltext":[{"header":"INTRODUCTION","content":"\u003cp\u003eGastrointestinal parasitic infections in livestock remain a significant global concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Ghana, where animal husbandry is crucial for food security, rural livelihoods, and public health. In [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e], Helminth infections, including nematodes (\u003cem\u003eStrongyle\u003c/em\u003e spp.), cestodes (\u003cem\u003eMoniezia\u003c/em\u003e spp.), and trematodes, are among the most prevalent parasitic threats to ruminants such as cattle, goats, and sheep. These infections impair growth rates, reduce milk and meat yields, compromise reproductive efficiency, and elevate mortality rates, especially in young and immunocompromised animals [2;3]. The economic implications are profound; gastrointestinal parasites alone cost the global ruminant livestock industry billions of dollars annually through productivity losses, increased veterinary costs, and reduced market value [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom a public health perspective, the presence of gastrointestinal parasites in livestock raises zoonotic concerns [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]. According to [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e], several helminths have the potential to be transmitted to humans directly or indirectly through contaminated meat [5; 6], soil [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e], water [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e], or fomites. [10; 11; 12] described, these zoonotic transmissions can result in significant health challenges in vulnerable populations, including anaemia, malnutrition, and compromised immune responses, particularly among children and pregnant women. [13; 14] stated that slaughterhouses and abattoirs, especially in LMICs with limited regulatory oversight, serve as crucial nodes in the epidemiology of parasitic infections and act as both indicators and amplifiers of disease risks.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Ghana, livestock production contributes approximately 14% to the agricultural GDP and remains an important livelihood activity for smallholder farmers [15;16]. However, challenges such as poor veterinary infrastructure [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e], limited access to anthelmintics [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e], and inadequate abattoir hygiene [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e] affect food or meat hygiene. The Bono East Region, and specifically the Techiman Metropolitan, hosts one of the busiest livestock markets and slaughterhouses in the country [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e], as it serves as the centre of trade for Ghanaians and other parts of West Africa like Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, C\u0026ocirc;te d\u0026rsquo;Ivoire and the rest. Yet, there is limited systematic data on parasitic infections among slaughtered livestock, leaving a gap in evidence-based animal health interventions and zoonotic disease surveillance.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Techiman Slaughterhouse (TS) processes large volumes of cattle, sheep, and goats daily, sourced from both local and transboundary livestock markets, according to the annual report from [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e]. Such concentrated animal processing, without appropriate health screening and sanitary measures, elevates the risk of parasitic spread and zoonotic transmission [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e]. Previous international studies have shown that poor slaughterhouse hygiene and unregulated meat inspection are major risk factors for the introduction of parasitic infections into the human food chain [22; 23]. Despite this, few studies in West Africa have rigorously examined the parasitological burden in slaughterhouse settings, hindering efforts to prioritize parasite control in national public health agendas.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study, therefore, aims to evaluate the prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in faecal samples from livestock processed at the TS. The findings will provide critical data for strengthening veterinary surveillance, informing public health risk mitigation strategies, and contributing to national and regional goals on zoonotic disease prevention in line with the One Health framework [10; 13]. Ultimately, this research will support the development of context-appropriate interventions that enhance livestock productivity, reduce economic losses, and safeguard human health.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"MATERIALS AND METHODS","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eStudy Area\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Techiman Slaughterhouse is situated in the Techiman Metropolitan (TM) of the Bono East Region in Ghana, an area dominated by an agrarian economy. There are mixed farming systems where livestock rearing is part of the local economy, according to [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. The climate in Techiman is tropical, characterized by a wet season from March to October and a dry season from November to February [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e], which influences the prevalence and spread of parasitic infections among livestock. The slaughterhouse is close to the livestock market and also serves as the central point for processing animals from various farms and people around the area, making it an ideal location for assessing the parasitic burden in livestock in this region.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSample Collection\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA total of 341 faecal samples were collected from sheep, goats, and cattle and processed at the TS. After initial sorting, 327 samples were selected for detailed analysis. Sampling was done from December 2021 to May 2022 to ensure the sample obtained was representative of the animals slaughtered within the period covering equal months in both wet and dry seasons. The animals were randomly selected to prevent bias in sampling and involved putting in efforts to ensure animals from different age sets, sexes, and breeds were included. Faecal samples were then collected from the rectum directly in the morning between 5 am to 8 am upon each visit, of each animal using sterile gloves and placed into labelled, airtight containers (to prevent contamination and secure sample integrity); this was done according to [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]. The samples were then transported in cool boxes to the Disease Investigation Farm and Regional Veterinary Laboratory for analysis within 24 hours of collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLaboratory Analysis\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUpon arrival at the laboratory, the faecal samples were stored at 4\u0026deg;C until processing. The parasitological examination adopted both qualitative techniques that identified the parasites found in the samples [3;22]. The methods applied for the detection of nematode eggs, cestode eggs, and protozoan oocysts were flotation techniques, while the sedimentation technique was applied in detecting trematode eggs [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e]. In the flotation technique, saturated salt solution (Sodium chloride) served as the flotation medium, and the samples were viewed under a light microscope at 10\u0026times; and 40\u0026times; magnification [26; 27]. Sedimentation was carried out using a standard method whereby water was added to the stool, followed by centrifugation and subsequent examination for trematode eggs in the sediment [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the identification of the parasite, the morphological features were used as they are described in the standard parasitology texts [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e]. A second parasitologist's quality control of a sub-sample was done as quality control.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e Data entry and cleaning were conducted using Microsoft Excel, followed by analysis with IBM SPSS Statistics version 25 and R version 4.3.1. Initially, descriptive statistics were calculated to ascertain the frequencies and percentages of parasitic infections categorized by species, sex, age group, and animal origin. Prevalence was determined using the formula adapted from [30; 31], expressed as: Prevalence \u003cb\u003e=\u003c/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\(\\:\\frac{\\text{T}\\text{o}\\text{t}\\text{a}\\text{l}\\:\\text{n}\\text{u}\\text{m}\\text{b}\\text{e}\\text{r}\\:\\text{o}\\text{f}\\:\\text{p}\\text{o}\\text{s}\\text{i}\\text{t}\\text{i}\\text{v}\\text{e}\\:\\text{w}\\text{o}\\text{r}\\text{m}\\left(\\text{s}\\right)/\\text{s}\\text{a}\\text{m}\\text{p}\\text{l}\\text{e}\\:\\text{i}\\text{d}\\text{e}\\text{n}\\text{t}\\text{i}\\text{f}\\text{y}}{\\text{T}\\text{o}\\text{t}\\text{a}\\text{l}\\:\\text{s}\\text{a}\\text{m}\\text{p}\\text{l}\\text{e}\\left(\\text{s}\\right)\\:\\text{a}\\text{n}\\text{a}\\text{l}\\text{y}\\text{s}\\text{i}\\text{s}}\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e \u0026times;100.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePearson\u0026rsquo;s chi-square tests (χ\u0026sup2;) were employed to explore potential associations between categorical variables (species, sex, age, origin) and parasitic infection status, with statistical significance set at a p-value\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05. The 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) for prevalence estimates were calculated using the binomial exact method, offering a range within which the true population parameter is expected to reside with 95% confidence. To further evaluate risk factors for parasitic infections, binary logistic regression was conducted. The dependent variable was infection status (positive or negative), while species, sex, age group, and origin served as independent variables. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% CIs were reported to estimate the likelihood of infection associated with each factor, controlling for potential confounders.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"RESULTS","content":"\u003cp\u003eAmong the livestock raised and slaughtered in Ghana, only three of them, namely: \u003cem\u003eBovine\u003c/em\u003e (Cattle), \u003cem\u003eCaprine\u003c/em\u003e (Goat) and \u003cem\u003eOvine\u003c/em\u003e (Sheep), were slaughtered at TS. Others, like Pigs, are slaughtered because more than 90% of the workers are Muslim.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDemographics of Slaughtered Animals\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, among the livestock species that were slaughtered, \u003cem\u003eBovine\u003c/em\u003e (cattle) accounted for the majority of the samples, 85.3%, followed by \u003cem\u003eOvine\u003c/em\u003e (sheep) 11.3% and \u003cem\u003eCaprine\u003c/em\u003e (goats) 3.4%. Of the infected animals, 42.2% were cattle, 6.2% were sheep, and 2.4% were goats, as shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e. Figure\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e also provided variation in the age, with the seven (7) years being the oldest animal slaughtered. Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eshows that\u003c/em\u003e goats exhibited the highest proportion of infection, the p-value (0.065) and chi-square (5.47) slightly exceeded the conventional threshold for statistical significance (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). This indicates a trend towards statistical significance, suggesting that further investigation with a larger sample of goats is warranted.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDemographics of Slaughtered Animals\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSpecies\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrequency\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePercentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBovine\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e279\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e85.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCaprine\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOvine\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSex\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e120\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e36.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e207\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e63.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBreed\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBlack Bengal\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCross Breed\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGudali\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN'dama\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNungua Black Head\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSahilion\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUda\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWest African Dwarf\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhite Fulani\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e110\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eZebu\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e90\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e27.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOrigin\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBanda Nkanta\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBawku\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBuipe\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e161\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e49.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChiraa\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGulu\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNiger\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNsuta\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSeko\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSunyani\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTamale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTanaso\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTechiman\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e44\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTechiman (Sheep and Farm Market)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYeipi\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eZongo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eInfection Status of Slaughtered Animals\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSpecies\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNegative\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePercentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePositive\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePercentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCattle\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e141\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e43.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e138\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e42.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGoat\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSheep\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e17\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePrevalence of Parasitic Infections\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e revealed the following results that out of the 327 samples, 48% (157) had no ova found while 33.3% (109) of the faecal samples had \u003cem\u003eStrongyle Ova\u003c/em\u003e, followed by 11.6% (38) were with \u003cem\u003eMoniezia Expansa\u003c/em\u003e, and 7% (23) were with both \u003cem\u003eStrongyle\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eMoniezia Expansa\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrevalence of Parasitic Infections found in the faecal samples\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eKind of Ova Found\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrequency (n)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrevalence (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eStrongyle Ova\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e109\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMoniezia\u003c/em\u003e spp.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e38\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBoth \u003cem\u003eStrongyle\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eMoniezia\u003c/em\u003e spp.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo Ova\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e157\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e48.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRisk Factors for Parasitic Infections\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe analysis in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e revealed that goats exhibited a significantly higher likelihood of infection compared to cattle, with an odds ratio (OR) of 9.62 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18\u0026ndash;78.41, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Although other variables such as sex, age, and origin did not demonstrate statistically significant associations, they may hold relevance in multivariate models.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBinary logistic regression\u003c/em\u003e of \u003cem\u003erisk factors for parasitic infections\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOdds Ratio (AOR)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e95% CI Lower\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e95% CI Upper\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSignificance\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIntercept\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.86\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.57\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.29\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eGoat vs. Cattle\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e9.62\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e1.18\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e78.41\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSheep vs. Cattle\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.56\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ens\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMale vs. Female\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.21\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.76\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.92\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ens\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOld vs. Young\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.83\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.99\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ens\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdult vs. Young\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.03\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.61\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.74\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ens\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRural vs. Urban origin\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.96\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.59\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.58\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ens\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003ens: not demonstrate statistically significant associations\u003c/h2\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"DISCUSSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study offers critical insights into the parasitic burden among livestock at the TS. It reveals a high overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites, with \u003cem\u003eStrongyle\u003c/em\u003e spp. and \u003cem\u003eMoniezia\u003c/em\u003e spp. being the most commonly identified helminths. The overall infection prevalence of 52.0% aligns with reports from similar abattoir-based studies in sub-Saharan Africa, where inadequate anthelmintic practices and environmental contamination increase livestock exposure to infective stages of parasites [3;21].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe prevalence of \u003cem\u003eStrongyle\u003c/em\u003e ova at 33.3% corroborates previous findings by [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e], who reported high \u003cem\u003estrongyle\u003c/em\u003e egg loads among extensively grazed ruminants in tropical regions. This suggests that prevailing grazing systems and the lack of rotational pasturing in Techiman likely contribute to heavy pasture contamination. Furthermore, the detection of \u003cem\u003eMoniezia\u003c/em\u003e spp. in 11.6% of samples corroborates the observations of [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e], who noted that tapeworm infections are common in sheep and goats under traditional systems where intermediate hosts (oribatid mites) are abundant due to poor pasture hygiene.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA notable and novel finding in this study was the disproportionately high odds of infection observed among goats compared to cattle, with goats being nearly ten times more likely to be infected (AOR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;9.62, 95% CI: 1.18\u0026ndash;78.41, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). This observation contrasts with some studies that have reported higher helminth burdens in cattle due to their longer lifespan and greater exposure to contaminated environments [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e]. However, the higher prevalence in goats may be attributable to their typically lower priority in veterinary care among mixed farmers in Ghana and their browsing behaviour, which may inadvertently expose them to intermediate parasite hosts on shrubs and contaminated surfaces [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlthough sheep also exhibited notable infection rates, no statistically significant association was observed when compared to cattle. The lack of significance may be attributed to the smaller sample sizes for sheep and goats, which limit statistical power. Similar trends were reported by [33; 34], who observed high variability in parasitic prevalence in small ruminants depending on the geographical setting and husbandry practices.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInterestingly, no significant association was found between infection status and sex, age group, or geographical origin of the animals. This contradicts the work of [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e], who identified age and sex as significant predictors of helminth infection, with younger and female animals being more susceptible. The current findings suggest that in the Techiman context, exposure to infective stages may be uniformly high across demographic categories due to shared environmental and management conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese results reinforce the importance of species-targeted parasite control strategies and highlight the role of slaughterhouses as critical surveillance points for endemic parasitic diseases. The borderline significance observed in the chi-square test for species (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.065) further emphasizes the need for larger sample sizes and regular monitoring to better detect interspecies differences and transmission dynamics.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom a public health perspective, these findings raise concerns about the zoonotic potential of slaughterhouse-associated parasites. While \u003cem\u003eStrongyle\u003c/em\u003e spp. and \u003cem\u003eMoniezia\u003c/em\u003e spp. are typically not directly zoonotic [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e], their presence indicates poor animal health management, which may facilitate the persistence of other zoonotic pathogens in the environment [15; 21].\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"CONCLUSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study provides a detailed parasitological profile of livestock slaughtered at the TS in Ghana, revealing a substantial prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths, notably \u003cem\u003eStrongyle\u003c/em\u003e spp. and \u003cem\u003eMoniezia\u003c/em\u003e spp.. The findings indicate species-specific variations in infection risk, with goats exhibiting significantly higher odds of parasitic infection compared to cattle. This emphasizes the urgent necessity for targeted parasite control strategies, particularly among small ruminants, which are frequently under-prioritized in veterinary health programs.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe lack of significant associations with sex, age group, and animal origin suggests that the parasitic burden is pervasive across livestock demographics, likely due to shared risk factors such as inadequate anthelmintic use, unsanitary abattoir conditions, and limited veterinary interventions. These results underscore the role of slaughterhouses as sentinel surveillance points for endemic and emerging parasitic infections, offering a strategic opportunity to enhance public health and animal health integration through the One Health approach.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo mitigate the burden of parasitic infections and improve meat safety, the implementation of regular faecal screening, species-specific deworming protocols, and enhanced biosecurity measures at slaughter facilities is recommended. Additionally, expanding parasitological monitoring and investing in education for livestock handlers can contribute to the development of sustainable systems for parasite control.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFuture research should investigate seasonal variations in parasite prevalence, conduct molecular identification of parasites to improve diagnostic precision, and assess resistance to commonly used anthelmintics. Such studies will contribute to more effective, evidence-based policies for livestock health management and food safety in Ghana and similar contexts.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthical Considerations\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFaecal sampling was conducted during routine slaughter operations with no live-animal handling. Activities fell under the statutory responsibilities of the Disease Investigation Farm and Regional Veterinary Laboratory.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are grateful to the staff of the Techiman Disease Investigation Farm and Regional Veterinary Laboratory for their assistance with sample collection and analysis. Special thanks to the Techiman Metropolitan Veterinary Clinic Department for allowing access to the slaughterhouse facilities. Thank you to everyone who helped make this study a success. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent to Publish declaration\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of interest\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare no conflict of interest related to this study.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding Sources\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo external funding was received. All costs were covered by the authors.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors’ Contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePKD:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eConceptualization, fieldwork, laboratory analysis, drafting\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;NYAB:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eData analysis, literature review, manuscript revision\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;HDF:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eStatistical analysis, methodology development\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;SB:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eField sample collection and logistics\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;MANL:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eAccess facilitation and project support\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll authors approved the final manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData Availability\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe data supporting this study's findings are available upon request from the corresponding author.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eZajac AM, Conboy GA (2012) Veterinary clinical parasitology, 8th edn. 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J Ghana Sci Assoc 21:81\u0026ndash;90\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Gastrointestinal parasites, Livestock, Abattoir surveillance, One Health, Meat safety, Techiman","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8117981/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8117981/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBackground\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGastrointestinal parasitism remains a major constraint to livestock productivity and public health in developing countries. Abattoir-based surveillance offers a practical means to monitor infection patterns and associated food safety risks. This study assessed the prevalence and types of gastrointestinal parasites in livestock slaughtered at the Techiman Metropolitan Abattoir in Ghana within the One Health framework.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMethods\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA total of 341 faecal samples were randomly collected from cattle, sheep, and goats immediately after evisceration between December 2021 and May 2022. Of these, 327 were processed and analyzed due to the loss of data for 14 samples. Flotation and sedimentation parasitological techniques were employed to detect helminth eggs and protozoan cysts, including those of nematodes and cestodes. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to determine prevalence and associations between infection and host species.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eResults\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe overall prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths among the examined livestock was 52.0%. Specifically, 33.3% of samples tested positive for \u003cem\u003eStrongyle\u003c/em\u003e ova, 11.6% for \u003cem\u003eMoniezia\u003c/em\u003e spp, and mixed infections were observed in 7.0% of samples. Nearly half (48.0%) of the samples showed no detectable ova. Cattle constituted the majority of slaughtered species, followed by sheep and goats. There was a significant association (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) between host species and parasite prevalence.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe high burden of gastrointestinal parasites detected at slaughter highlights substantial risks for livestock productivity and meat safety. Strengthening slaughterhouse hygiene, implementing species-specific parasite control programmes, and enhancing integrated abattoir surveillance within Ghana\u0026rsquo;s One Health system are urgently recommended.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Epidemiological Assessment of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Livestock at Techiman Slaughterhouse, Ghana: A One Health Perspective","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-11-26 05:01:18","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8117981/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"84970b66-3dd5-4ca8-9e59-22f81cfc0647","owner":[],"postedDate":"November 26th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-11-26T05:01:18+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-11-26 05:01:18","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8117981","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8117981","identity":"rs-8117981","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}