A Comparative Field Survey of Iraqi Camels with Trypanosomiasis between Karbala Governorate and Najaf Governorate

Abstract

This field survey was conducted to find out the prevalence of trypanosomiasis in Iraqi camels in the governorates of Karbala and AL-Najaf and to find out which of the two governorates has the highest incidence of infection. Collected (300) blood samples randomly for the period from (1/7/2018 to 31 /7/2019). The samples were collected from camels that graze naturally in the pastures of the Western Badia in the city of AL-Najaf , the Sea of AL-Najaf , the natural pastures in Karbala ,from the camels brought for treatment in the veterinary clinic in AL-Najaf and Karbala and from the camels brought for slaughter in the slaughterhouses of AL-Najaf and Karbala. The camels from which blood samples were collected, some of them were in good health others suffered from respiratory and digestive diseases, had skin diseases and various wounds. Some of them have been observed to have accumulation of edema in different areas of the animal's body. The ages of the camels ranged between (1 year -18 years). After collecting the blood samples, wet smears were made, thick and light dry blood smears were stained with Leishman stain to view the parasite, and a mercury chloride test was done. By examining the smears of all the samples, it was found that there were (191) healthy animals by (63.7%), and (109) infected animals by (36.3%), where the number of infected females was higher than the number of infected males in number ( 78) by ( 26) While the number of infected males was (31) by (10.3%). Thus, the results of the statistical analysis show the existence of a significant statistical difference at the level of (p≤ 0.01) between males and females. The highest infection rate was in camels whose ages ranged between (13 years -15 years) with a number (26) by (8.6%), then came in the second degree for camels whose ages were (10 years -12 years) with ( 24) by (8%),while the lowest rate was recorded in aged (12-15 years) with a number (9) by (3%). Thus, the results of the statistical analysis show the existence of a significant statistical difference at the level of (p≤ 0.01) between the camel groups according to the age group. As for the results of trypanosomiasis in the governorates of Karbala and AL-Najaf, the number of infection in the governorate of AL-Najaf was higher than the number of infection in the governorate of Karbala, the number of infected camels in the governorate of AL-Najaf was (66) infected animals by (22%) of the total (150) blood samples that were examined and the number of infected camels in Karbala governorate is (43) infected animals by (14.3%) of the total (150) blood samples. Thus, the results of the statistical analysis show the existence of a significant statistical difference at the level of (p≤ 0.01) between the infection rate in the two governorates .