Clinico-Hematological and Biochemical Studies on Naturally Infected Camels with Trypanosomiasis

Blood borne protozoan diseases such. as trypanosomiasis have negative impacts. on health, production and working efficiency of camels in different camel-rearing areas of the world including Palcistan. In the present study, blood samples were collected from camels kept at desert condition of Cholistan to estimate the prevalence of trypanosomiasis and hemato-biochemical changes in naturally infected cases. Results showed an overall 9.67% prevalence of trypanosomiasis in camels. Various clinical signs such as pyrexia, occasional shivering, inappetence, urticarial swelling, lethargy, going down in condition and edema of pads were observed in few cases. The statistical analysis did not show significant association of age and sex with trypanosomiasis. However, the results revealed significantly decreased values of total erythrocyte counts, packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, serum total proteins and albumin while increased values of mean corpuscular volume was recorded in infected animals as compared to healthy ones. A significant (P<0.01) increased values of total leukocyte count, monocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils was recorded in the infected animals. Moreover, microscopic examination of blood films obtained from naturally infected cases showed presence of parasite and various morphological changes in cells such as stomatocyte, hypochromia and polychromia. Significantly increased values of different hepatic enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were also recorded.