3.3. Demographic factors associated with GIP infection
Of the 377 cattle sampled, the White Fulani breed had the highest GIP presence of 67%, while the least (22.2%) was in Bokolo. We observed a significant association between the White Fulani breed of cattle and GIP infection compared to the Bokolo (OR: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.04 – 0.6) and other crossbreeds (OR: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1 – 0.5). The presence of GIP was highest (76.2%) in age group ≤ 2 years, with the least (53.3%) in the age group > 5 years’ cattle. A significant association existed between older cattle aged greater than 5 years and GIP infection (OR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2 – 0.8) compared to those 2 years and below. Also, we observed a significant association between age group 3-5 years and GIP infection (OR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2 – 1.0) when compared with those 2 years and below. Cattle with lean BCS had the highest (92.3%) presence of GIP, and the least (38.1%) was in cattle with the moderate condition. Cattle with moderate body condition score were less likely to have GIP infection when compared to the lean cattle (OR: 0.1; 95% CI: 0.001 – 0.4). Cattle from herds numbering between one to 30 (1-30) had the highest (85.7%) GIP infection, while those from herds with 31 to 50 cattle had the least (50.2%). There was a significant association between cattle from herd size 1 to 30 and GIP infection compared to those from 31 to 50 (OR: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1 – 0.4) and those with greater than 50 cattle (OR: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1 – 0.6). Gastrointestinal parasite infection was higher among female (58.2 %) than male (56.7%) cattle. Sex, however, was not significantly associated with GIP infection (Table 3). A statistically significant association was observed between age and the prevalence of Neoascaris spp (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 0.9-6.2), Taeni d egg (OR: 6; 95% CI: 1.7-32.14) and Eimeria spp (OR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.4-4.3). There was a significant association between the breed of cattle and Eimeriaspp (OR: 4.0; 95% CI: 1.1-22.1). BCS was also significantly associated with the prevalence of Eimeria spp (OR: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.03-0.6) (Tables 4 – 7).
On multivariable logistic regression, age (aOR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3 – 0.8), BCS (aOR: 2.3; 95%CI: 1.5 – 3.7), breed (aOR: 0.5; 95%CI: 0.3 – 0.7) and herd size (aOR: 0.6; 95%CI: 0.4 – 0.8) remained predictors of GIP infection (Table 8).