Life cycle and morphology of development stages of Physocephalus dromedarii (Nematoda: Spirocercidae)

Abstract

ObjectiveTo study the development of Physocephalus dromedarii (P. dromedarii) in the final host. MethodsFor this, 5 adult dromedaries were orally infected with third larval stages of P. dromedarii obtained from naturally infected scarab beetles (Scarabaeus cristatus). The camels were necropsied 14, 42, 70, 84 and 280 days after infection and their abomasi were examined for the presence of nematodes. ResultsEarly 4th stage larva occurred already 2 weeks after infection. They were still in the sheet of the 3rd stage larva. Six weeks after infection, the nematodes became juvenile male and female adults measuring 9 and 10 mm, respectively. Their size doubled at 10 weeks post infection and patency was reached at 12 weeks. P. dromedarii was still present in the camel that was examined 40 weeks after infection. ConclusionsAs a result of experimental infection of the natural host, the determined prepatent period of P. dromedarii equalled 12 weeks.