CLINICAL AND HAEMATOLOGICAL CHANGES IN CAMEL INFESTED WITH TRYPANOSOMA EVANSI AND MICROFILARIA

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Abstract

Among 500 native camels (10-13 years) belonged to different localities at Assiut Governorate, 15 animals were infected with trypanosoma evansi and 12 animals with microfilaria species.
The clinical signs of trypanosomiasis included emaciation, weakness with paler mucous membrane and dry scruffy coat, intermittent fever (38.5-40.1°C), the animal stand with his nose somewhat depressed and head hanging forward, the eyes dull and half closed with conside rable amounts of tears.
In filariasis group, the camels showed severe weakness, paler mucous membrane, loss of appetite, elevation of body temperature (39.7°C), in addition both scrotum and testicles were swollen and attained the size of a tennis ball and sometimes extended downwards along the inside of both thighs. The affected camels showed stiffeness in move ment and wide gait. It was also found that the presence of microfilaria in the blood was not affected by night and day and enhanced by fever status.
Haematological studies: Revealed that, in trypanosomiasis, there were severe oligocythemia with significant decrease in both haemoglobin and packed cell volume. Normocytic hypochromic anaemia was also observed associated with leucocoytosis, eosinophilia and monocytosis.
Concerning filariasis, the affected camels showed oligocythemia, with significant decrease in both haemoglobin and packed cell volume. Micro cytic hypochromic anaemia was also observed associated with leucocyto sis and eosinophilia.