DefinePK

Abstract

The current study aims to determine the most dominant and zoonotic gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs) affecting camels in Giza Governorate in Egypt, and spotlight on hemonchosis among camels. A total of three hundred live camels at Elmoneib, and Kerdasa regions in Giza Governorate, Egypt were used for parasitological and sero-prevalence surveys, during the period extended from December 2022 to March 2023. Coprolological examination revealed that the overall prevalence of GIPs among camels was 80%. The animals harbored nine parasites including the zonotic ones Fasciola sp. (2%), Schistosoma sp. (1.7%), Cryptosporidium sp. (6.3%), and Balantidium coli (4%), furthermore Strongylida sp. (51.3%), Strongyloides sp. (8%), Trichuris sp. (8%), Moniezia sp. (2.7%) and Eimeria sp. (33.3%). The larvae of Haemonhcus sp. were observed in 89.6% (138/154) of the positive samples for strongyles; with 46% (138/300) of the total samples. Young and adult animals were significantly infected with Eimeria sp. (68%) and storngyles (54.4%), respectively. The age of the camel is considered a risk factor for Eimeria sp. (OR = 4.9157, 95 % CI: 2.041 – 11.8382), Fasciola sp. (OR =183.6667, 95 % CI: 9.9761 – 3381.4271) and Schistosoma sp. (OR =3.7664 (0.2058 – 68.9247). No significant difference associated with the GIP infection based on camels’ sex has been recorded. The seroprevalence of hemonchosis was 93.3%. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between fecal egg count and total immunoglobulin G (IgG) level in the infected sera. The study elicited that GIPs are highly prevalent and Haemonchus sp. is the most common gastrointestinal nematode among camels. The IgG response might be used as marker for monitoring the intensity of gastrointestinal nematodes infection. The periodical evaluation of GIPs is of great significance for food security and preventing the transmission of parasitic and zoonotic diseases.