A note on dicrocoeliasis andFasciola giganticainfection in livestock in Northern Ghana, with a record of spurious and of genuineDicrocoelium hospesinfections in man

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Abstract
Studies conducted at the slaughter-houses at Wa and other localities in Northern Ghana revealed a Dicrocoelium hospes infection rate of 58.8% among cattle in the area. D. hospes was also found in goat livers. The occurrence of spurious human infection with D. hospes was confirmed. Genuine human infection, probably the first recorded in Ghana, was found in two "cattle-boys" from the north. D. hospes infection does not appear to do much harm to livestock. Of the infected livers encountered, only 9.8% were condemned as unfit for human consumption; the remainder, which appeared normal though they contained many worms and ova, were passed for food. The consumption of such livers accounts for the finding of Dicrocoelium ova in the stools of man and for the spurious diagnosis of human dicrocoeliasis. Though genuine dicrocoeliasis in man may occur, the possible modes of transmission of the infection are such that it must be rare. Fasciola gigantica infection of livestock is less common than infection with D. hospes but more pathogenic. It was found in only 8.6% of the livers examined. The prevalence of fascioliasis is at present low, probably owing to the restricted number of habitats suitable for the snail host. As more permanent water-bodies become available as the result of water conservation, the infection may be expected to increase. Double infections with D. hospes and F. gigantica were encountered. The combined effect of the 2 parasites was usually more pathogenic than the effect of either parasite alone. Though dicrocoeliasis does not appear to be very pathogenic, it is likely that under the conditions prevailing in Northern Ghana, particularly in the dry season, the infection may predispose to other more pathogenic infections. It is therefore of the utmost importance that methods of controlling the infection should be found.

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