N.Moghaddar and A. Zahedie
Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box-1958
Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71345, Iran
ABSTRACT
Fifty camels of either sex in different age groups were examined soon after slaughter for the presence of Onchocerca fasciata over a period of one and half year. Twenty four camels (48%) were found to carry the nodules of O.fasciata. Older animals showed more infection rate and so also the males. The nodules were maximum on the sides of neck followed by sides of abdomen and thorax but rare in back region. Usually single nodule or in a group of 2 to 4 containing the worms were seen. Sections of the nodules showed filarial worms O.fasciata which were surrounded by fibrous connective tissue capsule. The nodules had number of cavities containing sections and fragments of worms in different planes. The inflammatory cells infiltrated in the area comprised of lymphocytes, eosinophils and histiocytes. In older lesions, there was more intense fibrous connective tissue with excessive granulomatous reaction surrounded by a zone of lymphocytes and giant cells.
Microfilarae were observed in the subcutaneous tissue near the lesions mostly parallel to the location of nodules containing adult parasites. The nodules were often mistaken as tuberculous infection of lymph nodes, the infected animals mostly had a low sale price and even condemnation of carcasses.
Key words : Camel, microfilariae, Onchocerca fasciata, pathogenesis, prevalence
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