book chapter, Coccidiosis in Old World Camels

Authors: Dubey, Jitender; SCHUSTER, R. - United Arab Emirates

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2019
Publication Date: 11/27/2019
Citation: Dubey, J.P., Schuster, R.K. 2019. Coccidiosis in Old World Camels. In: Dubey, J.P., editor. Coccidiosis in Livestock, Poultry, Companion Animals, and Humans. 1st Edition. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. p. 147-152. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429294105.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429294105

Interpretive Summary: Coccidia are a group of single celled parasites. This group of protozoa include important genera: Eimeria, Cystoisospora, Cyclospora, Sarcocystis and Isospora that can cause serious illness in livestock, poultry, and humans and some species are zoonotic (parasites transmitted from animals to humans). Camels (Cameuld dromedarius and C. bacterianus) are important for the economy of several countries in Asia, Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula, and coccidiosis is important as a cause of mortality in juvenile camels. Eimeria and Cystoisospora are 2 genera that infect camels. There is one valid species of Cystoisospora, C. orlovi in camels and is associated with severe disease in young camels, both pastoral and stall fed camels. Camels as young as nine days old can develop severe diarrhea and can die before oocysts are detected in feces. Lesions and endogenous stages are confined to the large intestine. The main lesion is hemorrhagic, diphtheroid to hemorrhagic colitis-associated with sexual stages; asexual stages are unknown. Oocysts are rarely excreted by adult camels, and in low numbers. Therefore, infection in very young camels remains unexplained. Here, the authors review history, the life cycle, biology, epidemiology, diagnosis and control of coccidiosis in camels. This review will be of interest to parasitologists, biologists, and veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: This is a review.