STUDIES ON CAUSES OF ABORTION IN MAGHRABIAN CAMELS

Abstract

History of abortion, stillbirths and death of camel calves within 6 months of birth were appeared in the year of 2013 in Maghribian camels in a farm in Mersa Matrouh governorate. Whole blood and serum samples were collected from 34 camels ≥ 5 years and from 19 camels < 5 years. Blood films prepared for detection of blood parasites by Giemsa stain. Serum samples used for detection of Toxoplasma antibodies by slide Toxo-Latex agglutination test (LAT) and Chlamydophilla spp. antibodies were detected by complement fixation test (CFT). Fifteen internal organs (liver, heart, lung and spleen) from aborted calves and twenty vaginal swabs from she camels that aborted were collected for isolation of chlamydiae via inoculation in embryonated chicken eggs (ECE). Toxoplasma antibodies, Theileria, Anaplasma and mixed infection (Theileria and Anaplasma) were detected in 70.6%, 26.5%, 17.6% and 8.8% of camels ≥ 5 years, while they were detected in 42.1%, 26.3%, 10.5% and 5.3% of camels < 5 years respectively. Examined serum samples by CFT showed 27% were positive for C. psittaci antibodies. Chlamydial inclusion bodies were detected in 45% and 20% of vaginal swabs and internal organs respectively by chicken embryo inoculation. Camels were treated with coliprim, butalex, imizol and alamycin which repeated routinely every 6 months. Number of aborted fetuses and stillbirths were decreased in years 2014 and 2015, while the number of still alive camel calves were increased in the same 2 years. No camel calves were dead within 6 months of birth in year 2015.