Common gastrointestinal parasites of indigenous camels (Camelus dromedarius) with traditional husbandry management (free-ranging system) in central deserts of Iran

Abstract

Gastrointestinal parasites of domesticated animals, especially in animals with traditional husbandry management cause reduction in production and performance of them. Aim of our study was to determine prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in indigenous camels, with traditional husbandry management that have no direct contact with other livestock. This study was carried out between Kerman and Yazd provinces of Iran, midsummer 2011. Fecal samples of 100 randomly selected camels of all age and sex, collected directly from their rectum. The fecal samples were examined by direct smear, simple flotation technique, centrifugal sedimentation technique, and McMaster egg counting technique and fecal culture to identification and determine the burden of parasites in different age groups. Nematode eggs and Eimeria oocysts were found (64 %) and (24 %) in fecal samples respectively. Parasite eggs that observed in camel feces were belong to Nematodirus spp. (52 %), Trichostrongyle type eggs (49 %), Haemonchus spp. (38 %), Trichuris spp. (14 %) Marshallagia spp. (10 %) and Eimeria cameli (24 %), the age of infected camels with helminthic infections was significantly higher than non-infected camels (p < 0.05), there was also a significant correlation between age and severity of coccidiosis (p < 0.05). Camel calves and camels below 5 years old were more infected with the Eimeria sp. than older ones. This study revealed gastrointestinal parasites is a major problem of indigenous camels with traditional husbandry, so parasite control programs must be established for increasing the productivity of this useful animal and industrial system for breeding camels recommended to increase productivity of them, especially where harsh climatic condition affected other livestock.

Gastrointestinal parasites of dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Algeria

“…The results of the present study indicated that helminthic infections were (170/717; 23.71%) compared to protozoan infections (122/717; 17.02%) in the investigated camels. These findings are similar to those reported in the previous studies [ 22 , 24 ]. It is evident that the helminthic and protozoan infections are commonly associated with livestock, including camels.…”

Gastro-Intestinal Parasites of Camels (&lt;i&gt;Camelus dromedarius&lt;/i&gt;) from Mogadishu, Somalia

“…Prevalence of Haemonchus sp. In our study was found to be very few compare to that reported in Iran [11] and Sudan [10]. Moreover, it was only detected from camels of dairy farms, and this may be attributed to the change in grazing behaviour of dairy camels.…”

“…The identified eggs of nematodes in the present study were presented in Plate 1. Most of these nematodes species were also reported in other camel zones such as Sudan, Egypt, Tanzania and Iran [8]- [11]. Prevalence of Haemonchus sp.…”

Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in one humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) slaughtered at the Maiduguri metropolitan abattoir, Borno State, Nigeria

“…Camels are almost the domestic animal best adapted to the harsh environments and fluctuating nutritional conditions of the arid and extremely arid zones (Rabana et al, 2011). They are known to tolerate a lot of parasitic infections of economic importance with minimal economic losses compared to many other livestock (Radfar and Gowhari, 2013). However, camels can be infected with various gastrointestinal parasites which include nematodes cestodes, trematodes and protozoans.…”