Camels and Camelids

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY ON HAEMOPARASITES OF DROMEDARY (Camelus dromedarius) IN IRAN

Journal Edition: December 2009
Article DOI:
Published On: 11-10-2018 07:09

Hassan Borji, Gholamreza Razmi and Sima Parandeh
Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

ABSTRACT

This research was conducted to determine the prevalence and seasonal fluctuation of haemoparasites in dromedaries in the eastern part of Iran. Blood samples of 262 dromedaries in abattoir of Mashhad, from May 2008 to June 2009 were analysed for haemoprotozoa by smear examination of blood stained with Giemsa’s stain. The same samples were also examined by knott technique for detection of camel filariasis.
Dromedaries were infected with Dipetalonema evansi (5.34%) and Trypanosoma evansi (0.58%), respectively. No infection with Theileria and Anaplasma were found. The prevalence rate of infection with Dipetalonema evansi was highest in autumn in female dromedaries aged 4-8 year. However, there was no significant relation between infection, age, sex and season. In the second study, inspection of testes, epididymis, spermatic cord and lungs of 172 dromedaries revealed that 10 (5.81%) dromedaries were infected with adult forms of Dipetalonema evansi. Male nematode was measured to be 9.5-10.5 cm, female nematode 17.5-19.5 cm and microfilariae 260-360 micrometer. Dromedaries in eastern part of Iran usually suffer from low grade infections with Dipetalonema evansi.
Key words: Camelus dromedarius, epidemiological study, haemoparasites, haemoprotozoa, Iranv