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Deparment of Parasitology
College of Veterinary Science and A.H.
S.D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar - 385 506, India.
thighs, inguinal region and around the tail. There are canal. Trypanosomosis can attack camel at any stage
loss of hair, scab formation, keratinization, proliferation of its life. All the age groups are affected but higher
of connective tissues, thickening and corrugation of incidence is observed in growing camels that is, shortly
skin. This disease is also of zoonotic nature. Camel after weaning. Trypanosomosis in camels usually
owners are the main sufferers due to close association occurs in chronic from but may be acute when the
with camels. animal is under stress. Camel suffer ing from
Transmission of the disease occurs by direct trypanosomosis exhibits clinical symptoms like increse
contact or via fomites, such as blankets and baggage in body temperature, anorexia and death in acute case
etc. Due to severe itching infected camels rub against while chronic form of the disease is associated with
their calves, other animal or trees and spread the anaemia, emaciation, intermittent fever, loss of hair,
disease. Affected camels become restless due to oedema, restlessness and abortion. This disease
intense pruritis. They bite, scratch and rub the affected generally persists for three or more years so, also called
areas which may lead ot formation of large wound with ‘Tibersa’. Diagnosis can be made on the basis of clinical
maggot infestation and secondary bacterial infections. symptoms. But for accurate diagnosis blood smear
Diagnosis of the disease is made on the basis of clinical examination, inoculation of blood from suspected
symptoms and by finding the different developmental animals into susceptible laborator y animal,
stages of mite and their ova in skin scrapings. Deep serobiochemical tests such as formal gel test and
skin scrapings should be taken from the edge of mercuric chloride test and immunological tests such
suspected lesion and valleys of corrugated or wrinkled Enzyme immunoassays are used. Recently, antigen
skin. For treatment, taramera oil with sulphur, kerosene enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase
oil and coaltar are widely used in India. But, these are chain reaction based assays have been found most
time and labour consuming and give unsatisfactory sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of
result. Some workers repor ted diazinon, amitraz, trypanosomosis. For treatment, quinapyramine methyl
deltamethrin, and fenvalerate as 100% effective after sulphate and quinapyramine methyl chloride are very
three application. Recently, introduction of ivermectin effective and widely used for curative and prophylactic
therapy has shown excellent results in the treatment purposes, respectively.
of mangy camels, but this drug is very expensive. Coccidiosis may be seen in young one with
The commonly found ticks on camel in India are symptoms like diarrhoea and dysentry. There are also
Hyalomma dromedarii, H. anatolicum, H. marginatum signs of dehydration, rough hair coat and anaemia.
isaaci, Rhipicephalus spp., Ornithodoros spp . etc. Infected camel acts as inter mediate host for
Heavy infections lead to decrease in draught capacity, Sarcocystosis spp. The cyst develop in the gut of
milk production in lactating dams and growth rate in infected camel and can also be seen in muscles of
young animals. Chr ysomyia spp . and Wohlfahrtia heart, diaphragm nd oesophagus. The infection is non-
magnifica are the most important myiasis producing pathogenic but has economic importance in countries
flies affecting camel and cause vaginal and preputial where camel is used for meat purpose. Toxoplasma
myiasis. Cephalopina titilator fly was found to cause gondii infection occurs in camel through contaminated
nasal myiasis in camel. food and water. In India, infection rate of 11-19% with
Protozoan infections higher prevalence in older animals have been reported.
Although no pathogenic effect has been reported due
Among protozoan infection Trypanosoma evansi,
to this infection, but possibly it might cause abortion.
Sarcocystis spp. Balantidium coli and Eimeria spp. are
commonly seen in camel. Out of these, Trypanosoma Diagnosis of Parasitic infestations
evansi is of major importance which has profound Clinical signs are often used in provisional
influence on camel health and cause huge losses to diagnosis of parasitic infestation. The ova, lar vae,
the camel owners. This protozoa is transmitted trophozites passed in faeces, urine, nasal discharge
mechanically through blood sucking flies like Tabanus, or lacrymal discharge give indication of parasitic
Stomoxys, Hippobosca, Lyperosia and Chrysops. The infection in the host. Most of protozoa are generally
incidence and severity of the disease vary in different present in blood. The examination of such material is
geographical regions and are maximum during the an aid to diagnosis of parasitic infestation like hydatid
period when fly breeding is maximum, particularly in cyst, Cysticercus tenuicollis and Sarcocystosis . No ova,
the months of October and November. Due to larvae or trophozite passed in body secretions and
introduction of Indira Gandhi Canal in the semi-arid excretion. In these cases immunological tests are of
region of Rajasthan geoclimatic conditions have great importance for diagnosis.
changed and incidence of trypanosomiasis or “Surra”
disease has incresed manifold in the areas around this ********
www.veterinaryworld.org Veterinary World Vol.1, No.10, October 2008 318