Presentation, Clinical Pathology Abnormalities, and Identification of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Camels (Camelus bactrianus and Camelus dromedarius) Presenting to Two North American Veterinary Teaching Hospitals. A Retrospective Study: 1980–2020

Abstract

Old World Camelids (OWC) represent two species (Camelus bactrianus and Camelus dromedarius) with increasing numbers in North America. Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism is a major cause of clinical disease in camelids and leads to significant economic impacts. Literature reporting on clinical parasitism of camels is localized to India, Africa, and the Middle East, with limited information available on OWCs in North America. Objectives of this study were to report on clinical presentation and diagnostic findings in Camelus bactrianus and Camelus dromedarius with GI parasitism and provide a comparative analysis between geographic regions. Medical records of OWCs presenting to two veterinary teaching hospitals (of the University of Tennessee and University of Wisconsin) were evaluated. Thirty-one camels including 11 Bactrians and six dromedaries (14 species not recorded) were included for the clinical component of this study, reporting on signalment, presenting complaint, and clinical pathology. Anorexia, weight loss, and diarrhea were the most common presenting complaint. Clinical pathology findings included eosinophilia, hypoproteinemia, and hyponatremia. For the second component of this study, a total of 77 fecal parasite examination results were evaluated for parasite identification and regional variation. Trichuris, Capillaria, Strongyloides, Nematodirus, Dictyocaulus, Moniezia, and protozoan parasites (Eimeria, Cryptosporidium, Giardia) were recorded. Strongyle-type eggs predominated, followed by Trichuris and Eimeria spp. There was a statistically significant variation in prevalence of coccidia between the two regions, with fecal examinations from Tennessee more likely to contain Eimeria (P = 0.0193). Clinicians treating camels in North America should recognize anorexia, weight loss, and diarrhea combined with clinical pathologic changes of hypoproteinemia, eosinophilia and hyponatremia as possible indications of GI parasitism. Clinicians should also consider the potential for regional variation to exist for GI parasites of camels in different areas of North America.

Failure of Passive Transfer in Camel Calves: 4 Cases (2010-2019)

“…Failure of passive transfer (FPT), also known as failure of passive immunity, is a common health concern in neonatal ruminants that results from inadequate colostrum absorption. Treatment, diagnoses, and outcomes of FPT have been reported for lambs [ 1 ], kids [ 2 ], calves [ 3 , 4 ], and crias [ 5 , 6 ]; however, veterinary literature is lacking in cases of FPT in neonatal Old World camel species. Old World camel species include the dromedary ( Camelus dromedarius ) and the Bactrian ( Camelus bactrianus ), which are native to the Middle East region and Northern Africa, and central Asia, respectively.…”

“…Old World camel species include the dromedary ( Camelus dromedarius ) and the Bactrian ( Camelus bactrianus ), which are native to the Middle East region and Northern Africa, and central Asia, respectively. However, the population of camels elsewhere, such as Australia [ 5 ] and North America [ 6 ], is increasing. Despite the large numbers of camels worldwide, there is currently a paucity of cases reported in the literature describing the management of failure of passive transfer in neonatal camels.…”

Postmortem diagnoses in South American camelids and factors influencing diagnostic rate in the Upper Midwest USA, 2009–2019

“…It was also suggested that clinicians should consider the potential for regional variations in species of gastrointestinal parasites of camels. 11 Suboptimal nutritional status in SACs is frequently remarked upon clinically, often attributed to their unique metabolism. SACs are more susceptible to hepatic lipidosis, vitamin D deficiency, and zinc deficiency than ruminant species.…”

“…Parasitism was more common in older animals in our dataset than in other studies focused on neonatal SAC mortality; specifically, rates of coccidia-associated diarrhea in crias were much lower in our dataset. 6,13,20 In a 2021 publication about Old World camelids of North America, 11 camels diagnosed with intestinal parasitism had anorexia, weight loss, and diarrhea combined with hypoproteinemia, eosinophilia, and hyponatremia. It was also suggested that clinicians should consider the potential for regional variations in species of gastrointestinal parasites of camels.…”

“…It was also suggested that clinicians should consider the potential for regional variations in species of gastrointestinal parasites of camels. 11…”