Prevalence and Impact of Fasciola gigantica and Dicrocelium dendriticum Hepatic Co-Infections in Domestic Ruminants from Municipal Slaughterhouses of Diamare Division, Far North Cameroon

Domestic animals are very often subject to associated hepatic parasitic infestations, the consequences of which are little known on farms. The present study, which aimed to determine the prevalence and impact of hepatic co-infestation with Fasciola gigantica and Dicrocelium dendriticum in domestic ruminants in butcheries in the Diamaré department, was conducted from January to July 2023. The livers were necropsied by incising the ventral part of the parenchyma along the hepatic and bile ducts in order to find and collect the flukes with the naked eye. Of the 800 cattle, 175 sheep and 1008 goats inspected, only cattle showed co-infestation with an overall prevalence of 4.25% which is significantly lower than that due to singular F. gigantica infestation (15.62%) and higher than that due to D. dendriticum (1.37%) (χ2=27.7; ddl=2; p < 0.000). These co-infections were higher in females (3.37%) (p<0.05), and in 6–7-year-old cattle (5.75%) (p>0.05). Their parasite densities were significantly lower than in cases of fasciolosis (24.75±18.21 flukes) but higher than in cases of dicroceliosis (8.11±6.89 flukes) (F=191.91; ddl=79; P < 0.000). The level of animal infestation was low for all types of infestation. The economic losses due to this F. gigantica/D. dendriticum co-infestation, evaluated at 7,650,000FCFA/year (12,584.25 us$), are lower than those due to single F. gigantica infestations (28,116,000FCFA/ 46,250.82 us$/year), and higher than those due to D. dendriticum (2,466,000FCFA//4,056.57 us$/year). These results show that parasitic hepatic co-infestation with F. gigantica/D. dendriticum exists and remains a serious health and economic problem.