<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p> Clinical, haematological, and biochemical changes induced by naturally occurring babesiosis in dromedary camels were described. Of 258 dromedary camels studied, 34 camels suffered from fever, appetite loss, weakness, depression, and reluctant movement; abortion and/or infertility were also observed. Parasitological blood examinations were performed using Giemsastained blood smears. The clinically affected animals were diagnosed with babesiosis, with 13.17% overall morbidity. Camels that suffered from babesiosis were subjected to haematological and biochemical analyses and the affected group was compared with a control group containing 34 healthy camels. The affected animals showed a highly significant (P&lt;0.001) reduction of the total red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin (HGB) concentration, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) as well as a highly significant reduction (P&lt;0.01) of haematocrit (HCT) and a significant reduction of (P&lt;0.05) mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH). Additional, highly significant increases (P&lt;0.01) in white blood cell (WBC) count and plateletcrit (PCT) percentage were detected. However, other haematological parameters were not significantly altered. There was a very significant reduction (P&lt;0.001) of the blood iron level and a very significant increase (P&lt;0.001) in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the affected camels. Additionally, significant increases in total protein, albumin, γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin were observed in the affected camels. It was concluded that babesiosis highly affects the haematobiochemical parameters of dromedary camels, including the liver, kidney, and muscle functions. These results represent novel findings concerning natural babesiosis in camels.</p>
</abstract>

Clinical, haematological, and biochemical changes induced by naturally occurring babesiosis in dromedary camels were described. Of 258 dromedary camels studied, 34 camels suffered from fever, appetite loss, weakness, depression, and reluctant movement; abortion and/or infertility were also observed. Parasitological blood examinations were performed using Giemsastained blood smears. The clinically affected animals were diagnosed with babesiosis, with 13.17% overall morbidity. Camels that suffered from babesiosis were subjected to haematological and biochemical analyses and the affected group was compared with a control group containing 34 healthy camels. The affected animals showed a highly significant (P<0.001) reduction of the total red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin (HGB) concentration, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) as well as a highly significant reduction (P<0.01) of haematocrit (HCT) and a significant reduction of (P<0.05) mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH). Additional, highly significant increases (P<0.01) in white blood cell (WBC) count and plateletcrit (PCT) percentage were detected. However, other haematological parameters were not significantly altered. There was a very significant reduction (P<0.001) of the blood iron level and a very significant increase (P<0.001) in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the affected camels. Additionally, significant increases in total protein, albumin, γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin were observed in the affected camels. It was concluded that babesiosis highly affects the haematobiochemical parameters of dromedary camels, including the liver, kidney, and muscle functions. These results represent novel findings concerning natural babesiosis in camels.

Clinical and laboratory findings associated with naturally occurring babesiosis in dromedary camels

Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University

Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences

Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Clinical, haematological, and biochemical changes induced by naturally occurring babesiosis in dromedary camels were described. Of 258 dromedary camels...

Clinical and laboratory findings associated with naturally occurring babesiosis in dromedary camels

Published Online: Jun 17, 2014

Page range: 229 - 233

Received: Jan 21, 2014

Accepted: Jun 03, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bvip-2014-0034

Keywords
dromedary camel, babesiosis, haematology, biochemistry.

© 2014 National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Clinical and laboratory findings associated with naturally occurring babesiosis in dromedary camels

Published Online: Jun 17, 2014

Page range: 229 - 233

Received: Jan 21, 2014

Accepted: Jun 03, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bvip-2014-0034

Keywordsdromedary camel, babesiosis, haematology, biochemistry.

© 2014 National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
dromedary camel, babesiosis, haematology, biochemistry.