Camel diseases

Introduction to camel

Respiratory diseases

Digestive system diseases

Urinary tract diseases

Skin diseases

Prof Mohamed Ghanem Prof Animal Medicine

Head of Animal Medicine Dept

”افال ينظرون الى اإلبل كيف خلقت”

Dromedary camel - single hump Bactrian Camel – double hump

Introduction about camel

The Camel stores excess water directly in its blood stream

The humps are excess fat used as fuel when it cannot get enough food

They do not start sweating until their internal body temperature reaches 42 °C (normal Temp 37.6-39 °C).

Whereas most animals will die if they are dehydrated to the point where they lose 20% of their body weight, the camel can lose up to 40% of their body weight in water without serious consequences

They are able to extract every bit of moisture out of any desert plants they eat.

Strong teeth, allowing them to consume thorny plants other animals wouldn't be able to touch.

Because of these adaptations, camels are capable of going for up to a week at a time without actually drinking

The camel's kidneys can concentrate and reduce urine and its flow, and are capable of producing urine twice as salty as seawater

Camels are able to tolerate brackish water that is would be undrinkable for other animals.

drink fast, drink up to 100 litres of water in one time.

Their eyes are protected from sand by a double row of long eyelashes

If sand get in their eyes, camels have more tear glands than most mammals, to clear it out

Their noses can be protected from sand and dust by simply closing their nostrils, by contracting some muscles surrounding them (voluntary contraction)

Their hearing is rather acute, and protected by fur lined ears

Camel milk is healthier than cow milk, containing not as much fat, and more vitamins. It is traditionally drunk fresh and warm

Camel dung is dry, and flammable. Quite useful for the fire to keep warm on a cold desert night.

the stomach is divided into three ventricles. The first and second ventricles of the proventriculus of camel form one stomach rather than two different stomachs (semiruminant animal).

The third ventricle appears to be the abomasum

General condition

Heart rate 60-100 bpm

Resp Rate 10-30 /min

Temp. 37.6 – 39 C

Diseases of respiratory system

Camel Myiasis (Killer Disease)

Cephalopina titillator

chronic rhinitis in camel caused by Cephalopina titillator larvae that occurs

in nasopharynx

Pathogenesis

A fly may deposit larvae on the nostrils The larvae occurred mainly in the

nasopharynx and, occasionally, degenerated larvae were found embedded between the turbinated bones

The nasal cavity becomes congested and filled with mucus in which some larvae are entangled

In the pharynx, the pathological changes included the formation of lymphoid nodules, with central abscesses, at the sites of larval attachment, with inflammation of pharyngeal wall

Nasopharyngeal region of C.

titillator infested camel

showing haemorrhagic,

swollen and edematous

mucosa.

Clinical signs

Sneezing

Difficulty of breathing

Nasal discharge

Anorexia

Neurological disturbance

Death may occur

Treatment

including Ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg), Albendazole, and Rafoxanide

Nostril irrigation with trichlorophen

S/C injection of nitroxynil 10 mg/kg

Control

Trichlorophen in drinking water 0.3 %

Pneumonia

Definition

Inflammation of lung parenchyma which is rare in camel characterized clinically by fever and shortness of breathing

Etiology

A- Predisposing factors

Cold and rain: infection mostly occurs at the beginning of rainy season

Lack of food: weakness

Stress of work or transportation

Weaning

Overcrowdness

B- infectious cause

I-Viral: influenza II- Bacterial: Pasteurella hemolytica most often isolated (56% of

pneumonic lungs) ---- Sonbobe disease (ethipian camels)

Streptococcus spp. Mycoplasma arginini pneumonia in camels Klebsiella ozaenae Corynebacterium species which cause pyogenic

infections locally. Bacillus and Proteus species were also isolated. Melioidosis III- Parasitic: Dictyocaulus cameli (D. cameli), D. viviparous

and D. filaria. All present in trachea, bronchi and bronchioles

C- Drenching: mainly during drenching medicine

CLINICAL SIGNS

1. Fever (40 °C) 2. Anorexia 3. Coughing : deep in the chest 4. Drooling from mouth with foul smelling 5. Runny nose and excessive tearing in eyes 6. Bloody nasal discharge in case of sonbobe

(pasteurella) 7. Rapid breathing (more than 30/min) 8. Difficulty of breathing with dilated nostrils

and mouth breathing 9. Finally, the camel became recumbent and

extended its neck straight along the ground

Mucopurrelent nasal discharge

Lacrimation (excessive tears)

recumbent and extended its neck straight along the ground with blood from nose

Diagnosis

1. Case history

2. Clinical signs

3. Lab. Diagnosis:

1. swab for microbiological examination

2. Demonstration of the 1st larval stage in feces in case of verminous pneumonia

Treatment

I- Hygienic treatment

1. Isolate affected camel from healthy with rest (7-10 days)

2. Provide worm salty water to drink

3. Minimize stresses

4. Shelter from wind

II- Medicated treatment

1. Antibacterial:

1. Oxytetracyclines

2. Penicillin-streptomycin

2. Antiparasitic: for lung worm by S/C injection of ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg

Diseases of Digestive system Indigestion

Bloat

Indigestion

Rumen acidosis, overeating, grain overload

Definition:

Problem of working and racing camels due to overfeeding of concentrates

Etiology

Overfeeding of concentrates such as wheat grain or flour

Overeating of dates

Clinical Signs

The camel vomits violently (the vomit is acidic)

Foul acidic smell from mouth

Camel stop chewing

Camel walks stiffly and unwilling to move

Auscultation on left side behind rib cage indicates stasis of movement (normal 3-4 sound/min)

Diagnosis

1. History

2. Clinical signs

3. Lab diagnosis: acidosis

Treatment

IV injection of buscopan 20-30 ml to control pain.

0.5-1 kg sod. Bicarb in ½ bucket water for drench (keep mouth up for 30 seconds to avoid vomition after drenching).

Anti-indigestion medicine, such as bykodigest or ruminodigest.

Severe cases:

IV sod. Bicarb 5%

0.9 normal saline (10 L/day for 2 days)

Transfusion of stomach fluid (by drenching) from other healthy animal (camel that has just slaughter) or using stomach tube and pump.

Bloat - Tympany

Definition

A built-up of gas in the rumen which is less common in camels probably because they are able to vomit (unlike other livestock)

Etiology

Allowing camel to drink soon after grazing on roughage and ground nut leaves.

Overfeeding on dates

Signs

1. The belly is distended on the left side

2. Mild signs of abdominal pain (colic)

3. Camel stops eating and drinking

4. The camel rolls on the ground on the left or right side and not on the back

5. The camel may die quickly within 30 minutes

Diagnosis

History

Signs

Treatment

Old method: drench with 200 ml kerosin or cooking oil mixed with 800 ml water or milk

Current:

Tymanyl (anti-frothing) 300-500 ml

IV injection 10 liters Ringer’s lactate

Severe cases: put a stomach tube through the mouth into stomach to allow gas to escape out.

Emergency treatment: pierce the abdomen with a trocar and canula or large needle (10 cm behind last rib and 7.5 cm below spine)

Caution: no smoking because the gas emitted is flammable

Urolithiasis

silica urolithiasis occurred in castrated male dromedaries on an intensive camel farm

Etiology:

Ingestion of large amounts of silica in the feed, estimated as 85 g/day.

low level of salt in the diet. Daily ingestion of salt from feed and water should be 21.8 g

The early castration of the animals

Infection, metabolic disorders, malnutrition and climatic stress are possible causes

Clinical signs

1. Most of the calculi occur at the level of the distal part of the urethra or at the level of the sigmoid flexure.

2. The affected animal may show signs of abdominal discomfort.

3. At later stages of the condition, the animal becomes lethargic and anorexic.

4. Health deterioration usually signals rupture of the bladder and presence of peritonitis

5. Symptoms of uremia will develop if this condition is not relieved

Preputial swelling in a male dromedary - urolithiasis with urethral rupture

Treatment

1. Catheterization is not possible and a urethrostomy should be performed

Control

1. 52 g of salt daily appears to be sufficient to prevent urinary retention in dromedaries

Parasitic dermatitis

Mange is a highly contagious skin disease of camel that transmitted by direct contact (with affected camels) or indirect contact (equipment) causing severe itching, poor growth, low milk production and even death of affected camels

Etiology

1. Sarcoptic scabie var. cameli which is

1. a minute circular parasite with 4 pairs of legs:

2. 2 fore legs arising from the edge of the body and

3. 2 rear legs that do not protrude beyond the margin of the body.

2. Poor management and nutrition are predisposing factors

3. High incidence in cold rainy season

Pathogenesis

1. Sarcoptes is a burrowing mite as it penetrates deeply through the skin and feed on tissue beneath the skin causing intense pruritis.

2. Small popular elevation occurs as an inflammatory reaction to mite’s invasion.

3. The serous exudate from injured skin become dried forming scab

4. Loss of hair at area of infestation leads to alopecia

5. Severe infestation and pruritis may lead to stopping of grazing and reduction of milk production

6. Within 2-3 weeks, the skin becomes thickened due to excessive keratinization and proliferation of connective tissue.

Clinical signs

1. Mange starts at armbit and groin (inguinal region) then spread to the rest of body.

2. The animal rubs and scratch the affected area with teeth or against trees.

3. Skin is thickened and has chalk-like appearance in affected area

4. Alopecia with scabs on the skin

5. Anorexia, anaemia and fall in milk yield.

6. Secondary bacterial infection of affected areas

A young camel calf severely affected by mange. Note the loss of hair and wrinkling of the skin

Dry, wrinkled skin of camel with mange

Diagnosis

1. History

2. Clinical signs

3. Skin scrapping: skin scrapping in 10% KOH and examine under microscope

Treatment

Treatment: mange is difficult to eradicate

Spraying camel with diazinon 0.05 -0.1 % or hexachlorocyclohexane 0.05% at 10 days intervals

S/C injection of ivermectin 0.2mg/kg found affective.

Mycotic dermatitis Ringworm

Dermatophytosis or Dermatomycosis

Ringworm infection in camels is similar to that in other animals.

It is self-limiting infection that can spread to other animals (direct or indirect contact) and can infect humans

Etiology

Trichophyton verrucosum

T. mentagrophytes infected older ones

Microsporum gypseum

The peak incidence of the disease was found to be in Autumn and Winter.

The disease was observed more frequently among young growing calves (1-2 years) than older animals and in females than males.

Clinical signs

Dry hairless circular patches with scaly white encrustation

The lesion starts small (1-2 cm in diameter) then enlarge or merge

There is no itching

A young camel calf affected by dermatophytosis (ringworm)

Diagnosis

History

Skin lesion round nature

Treatment

Soap and water wash to remove crusts

Then apply 50:50 tincture iodine:glycerine repeated every day until patches disappear

Topical antimycotic agent such as mycostatin

N.B.

Spontaneous recovery is common

Questions?