Prevalence of fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis in slaughtered cattle and sheep in Siirt Province, Türkiye: A Comparison of coprological and postmortem findings

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of the liver trematodes Fasciola spp. and Dicrocoelium dendriticum in cattle and sheep slaughtered in Siirt Province using fecal sedimentation and postmortem liver examination to compare their detection performance, and to estimate the sensitivity of fecal sedimentation relative to postmortem examination. A total of 2211 animals, comprising 374 cattle and 1837 sheep, slaughtered during the study period, were included in the study. Fecal samples were collected rectally before slaughter, and after slaughter, the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts were examined macroscopically. Fecal samples were analyzed using sedimentation; postmortem examination was the reference method. Based on postmortem examination, Fasciola spp. and D. dendriticum were detected in 26.2% (98/374) and 7.2% (27/374) of cattle, and in 14.8% (271/1837) and 5.9% (108/1837) of sheep, respectively. Fecal examination detected significantly fewer infections for both parasites in both hosts (McNemar test, p < 0.001 for all comparisons). The sensitivity of fecal sedimentation was 80.6% for Fasciola spp. and 29.6% for D. dendriticum in cattle, and 86.7% and 73.1%, respectively, in sheep. The prevalence of Fasciola spp. was significantly higher in cattle than in sheep (OR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.58–2.67; p < 0.001), whereas the difference in D. dendriticum prevalence between cattle and sheep was not statistically significant (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 0.80–1.92; p = 0.274). In cattle, age older than two years was significantly associated with Fasciola spp. (adjusted OR = 15.82, 95% CI: 8.12–30.84; p < 0.001) and D. dendriticum infection (adjusted OR = 3.29, 95% CI: 1.36–7.96; p = 0.008). In sheep, the Morkaraman breed had lower odds of Fasciola spp. infection (adjusted OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.32–0.56; p < 0.001) and D. dendriticum infection (adjusted OR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.14–0.38; p < 0.001) than the Akkaraman breed, while age was significantly associated only with D. dendriticum infection (adjusted OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.25–2.71; p = 0.002). These findings demonstrate that liver trematode infections were common among slaughtered animals in Siirt. Reliance on fecal sedimentation may considerably underestimate prevalence, particularly for D. dendriticum in cattle. Age- and breed-related associations should be considered in surveillance and control programs. From a public health perspective, awareness of zoonotic fasciolosis and risks associated with consuming raw aquatic plants from potentially contaminated areas should be increased.