Coccidial infection in camels of Gassim region, Central Saudi Arabia

Examination of 240 camel intestines and their contents showed a mean infection rate of about 13% with Eimeria spp (15.7 for adult camels and 10.2% for camel carves). E.cameli, E.rajasthani and E.dromedarii oocysts were identified in faeces. E.dromedari was the predominant infecting species, followed by E.rajasthani and the least common was E.cameli. Lesions of Eimeria were seen as white spots dispersed on the mucous membrane of the duodenum, ileum and jejunum without obvious inflammatory reaction around them. Histological examination of intestines showed that the spots were collections of developmental stages of the parasite. The schizonts were very large, pleomorphic and atrophied, much of the tissue containing them. They provoked slight inflammatory reaction around them in the form of small aggregates of lymphocytes. Macrogametes, microgametes and developing oocysts were identified morphologically. The majority of schizonts were degenerated as shown by the changes in their structure and loss of carbohydrate content or calcification.