Hepatic capillariasis in edible Cricetomys spp. (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in Zaire and its possible public health implications

Three of 17 Cricetomys emini and 4 of 13 C. gambianus from different areas of Zaire (4 born in captivity and 26 wild-caught) were found to be infected with Capillaria hepatica. The ova recovered from Cricetomys emini were generally larger than those from C. gambianus. This is thought to be the first record of Capillaria hepatica from cricetoma of Zaire. It is considered that any cricetoma bred in captivity for meat should be maintained free of hepatic capillariasis, not only to reduce human infection but also to maintain high fecundity in the rodents