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175974

A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS IN DROMEDARY CAMELS AT SHALATIN AREA, EGYPT

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Last updated: 23 Jan 2023

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Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by Cryptosporidium species that infect the microvillus border of the gastrointestinal epithelium of a wide range of vertebrates with a sparked great public health interest in humans. There are no available reports on cryptosporidiosis in dromedary camels. This work aimed to identify the cryptosporidial oocyst and its prevalence in dromedary camels and to estimate some serum biochemical characteristics in infected camels as an index of the risk arisen from the infection on the health of dromedaries. Microscopic survey on faecal samples from 1097 dromedary camels (aged from <6 months up to >8 years) revealed that 37 (3.37%) were positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts by using modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain. Linear regression analysis was positive between incidence of cryptosporidial infection and age. Microscopic examination of the acid-fast stained faecal smears revealed ovoid oocysts with single layer wall stained red or pink with a granular appearance. The average size (±SE) of the oocysts was 8.3±1.22 x 6.1±0.88 μm. These morphological characters fit the description of C. muris. So, these oocysts could be primarily called Cryptosporidium muris like oocysts. Serum biochemical analysis of 8 infected and 8 age-matched apparently healthy camels (3-7 years, free from other parasites) revealed significant reduction in the mean concentrations (±SE) of serum albumin (2.89±0.104 vs 3.19±0.091 g/dl, P=0.049) and α-Tocopherol (1.35±0.093 vs 1.66±0.082 μg/ml, P=0.009), whereas serum pepsinogin was doubled (866.5±46.42 vs 406.2±32.61 mU, P=0.003) in infected camels in comparison with controls. On the other hand, there were non-significant variations in the mean values of blood serum total protein, globulin, sodium, potassium and chloride of infected camels in comparison with controls. In conclusion, dromedary camels are susceptible to cryptosporidial infection with significant risk on their health. The present study should be regarded as a first step towards recognition of C. muris as a possible cause of gastritis in dromedary herds. More studies are needed for more identification of the parasite and to clarify its pathogenicity.

DOI

10.21608/avmj.2007.175974

Keywords

Key words: Cryptosporidiosis, Dromedary camels, serum proteins electrolytes, pepsinogn, Egypt

Authors

First Name

M.A.

Last Name

SALEH

MiddleName

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Affiliation

New-Valley Lab., Animal Health Research Institute, ARC, Egypt

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Orcid

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First Name

O.M.

Last Name

MAHRAN

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Affiliation

Shalatin Lab., Animal Health Research Institute, ARC, Egypt

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Orcid

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Volume

53

Article Issue

112

Related Issue

24393

Issue Date

2007-01-01

Receive Date

2006-12-17

Publish Date

2007-01-01

Page Start

1

Page End

14

Print ISSN

1012-5973

Online ISSN

2314-5226

Link

https://avmj.journals.ekb.eg/article_175974.html

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https://avmj.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=175974

Order

15

Type

Research article

Type Code

1,840

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Assiut Veterinary Medical Journal

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https://avmj.journals.ekb.eg/

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Article

Created At

23 Jan 2023