Prevalence of ectoparasites and their effect on some biochemical indices in camels (Camelus dromedarius) at Shalatin city [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Biochemistry unit, New-Valley laboratory, Animal Health Research Institute. (Received at 22/12/2003) Field and abattoir survey was done on a total of 810 male and female camels at different ages and seasons to study the prevalence of ectoparasites at Shalatin City, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt. Out of 680 examined camels in the field study, 45.59% revealed infestation with ectoparasites. Of these animals 11.76% were infested with sarcoptic scabiei var cameli, 30.14% with ticks and 3.67% showed mixed infestation. The incidence of ectoparasites in the abattoir survey was higher (87.7%) because of the high incidence of Cephalopenia titillator (67.69%). Tick species like Hyalommadromedarii, Amblyoma lepidum and Ornithodoros savignyi species were recorded. Older camels were more susceptible than younger individuals. Mange mites and bot flies were more prevalent with higher intensity in females than male camels, meanwhile tick infestation was more prevalent in males but females had higher burden. Contrarily to ticks, the highest rate of mites and nasal bot infestation was recorded in winter while the lowest was in summer. Normocytic normochromic anaemia was tl?-e hallmark of tick and nasal bot infestation, but infestation with mites revealed microcytic hypochromic anaemia. All infested groups showed leucocytosis accompanied by lymphocytosis and eosinophilia. Proteinogram showed hypoproteinaemia consequent to hypoalbuminaemia and hyperglobulinaemia. There was marked hyper a-globulinaemia and hyper y-globulinaemia without changes in ~-globulin fraction. Cases of sarcoptic mange treated with ivermectin showed disappearance of the initiated clinical signs and restored haematological and biochemical indices. Key words: dromedary, ectoparasites, prevalence, protein lectrophoresis.

Summary in Arabic.