Histopathological Evaluation of Intestinal Eimeria and Ogmocotyle-like Trematode Infections in Slaughtered Dromedary Camels

Tugce Anteplioglu; Razika Boukert; Mehmet Eray Alcığır; Sami Gökpınar; Oguz Kul; Merve Bişkin Türkmen; Gozde Yaldız; Sevgi Betul Kayabaşı; Tilbe Su Yapıcı; Baaissa Babelhadj; Mira Chikhaoui; Naima Sahraoui

doi:10.71336/ijvar.720

Authors

Tugce Anteplioglu Kirikkale University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Kirikkale, Türkiye
Razika Boukert Saad Dahlab University, Veterinary Sciences Institute, Biotechnology Laboratory, Blida, Algeria
Mehmet Eray Alcığır Kirikkale University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Kirikkale, Türkiye
Sami Gökpınar Kirikkale University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Kirikkale, Türkiye
Oguz Kul Kirikkale University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Kirikkale, Türkiye
Merve Bişkin Türkmen Kirikkale University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Kirikkale, Türkiye
Gozde Yaldız Kirikkale University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Kirikkale, Türkiye
Sevgi Betul Kayabaşı Kirikkale University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Kirikkale, Türkiye
Tilbe Su Yapıcı Kirikkale University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Kirikkale, Türkiye
Baaissa Babelhadj School of Ouargla, Blida, Algeria
Mira Chikhaoui Tiaret University, Department of Animal Health Veterinary Institute Laboratory of Research on Local Animal Products, Tiaret, Algeria
Naima Sahraoui 1Kirikkale University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Kirikkale, Türkiye 2Saad Dahlab University, Veterinary Sciences Institute, Biotechnology Laboratory, Blida, Algeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71336/ijvar.720

Keywords:

Coccidiosis, Parasitic Diseases, Protozoan Infections, Small Intestine, Trematoda

Abstract

Camelus dromedarius is a resilient, desert-adapted species; however, it remains susceptible to gastrointestinal parasitic infections that often go undiagnosed in clinically healthy individuals. This study investigated the occurrence, anatomical distribution, and histopathological impact of protozoan and helminth parasites in the small intestinal segments (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) of 14 asymptomatic dromedaries slaughtered in Blida, Algeria. Histopathological analyses revealed subacute catarrhal enteritis, villous atrophy, epithelial degeneration, and inflammatory infiltration. Sexual stages of Eimeria cameli and Eimeria dromedarii were frequently identified, particularly within the crypts of Lieberkühn and villous epithelium, respectively. Overall, 78.57% of animals were found to be parasitized, with E. cameli present in 57.14%, and one individual harboring both species. Morphometric and Periodic Acid–Schiff (PAS) staining supported the identification of distinct developmental stages of both species. Notably, Ogmocotyle-like trematodes were detected in the duodenum of two camels, representing the first report of such organisms in this host. These flukes were associated with focal epithelial necrosis, eosinophilic infiltration, and luminal debris, underscoring their pathological significance. Despite the absence of molecular confirmation, histopathology, histochemistry, and morphometric analysis collectively enabled a detailed characterization of these infections. These findings highlight the importance of post-mortem surveillance and accurate parasitic identification in camels. Future studies should incorporate molecular tools to enhance species-level resolution and explore host–parasite immunological dynamics.

References

Bandyopadhyay S, Pal P, Bhattacharya D, Bera AK, Pan D, Rahman H. 2010. A report on the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in yaks (Bos poephagus) in the cold desert area of North Sikkim, India. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 42: 119–121. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9394-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9394-8

Bouragba M, Laatamna A, Cheddad FE, Baroudi D, Houali K, Hakem A. 2020. Gastrointestinal parasites of dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Algeria. Veterinary World, 13(8):1635–1640. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2020.1635-1640 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2020.1635-1640

Choe SJ, Na KJ, Jee CH. 2011. A survey on gastrointestinal parasites of Korean water deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus) in Chungbuk Province. Korean Journal of Veterinary Service, 34: 259–262. https://doi.org/10.7853/kjvs.2011.34.3.259 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7853/kjvs.2011.34.3.259

Dubey JP, Schuster RK. 2018. A review of coccidiosis in Old World camels. Veterinary Parasitology, 262: 75–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.08.008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.08.008

Dubey JP. 2019. Coccidiosis in Livestock, Poultry, Companion Animals, and Humans, In: Dubey JP, Schuster RK. (Eds.), Coccidiosis in Old World Camels, 1st Ed. Routledge: CRC Press, Newyork, US, pp. 147-152. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429294105-12 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429294105-12

Dubey JP. 2018. A review of coccidiosis in South American camelids. Parasitology Research, 117:1999–2013. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-5890-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-5890-y

El-Khabaz KAS, Abdel-Hakeem SS, Arfa MI. 2019. Protozoan and helminth parasites endorsed by imported camels (Camelus dromedarius) to Egypt. Journal of Parasitic Diseases, 43:607–615. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-019-01138-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-019-01138-y

Faye B, Konuspayeva G. 2012. The encounter between Bactrian and Dromedary camels in Central Asia. In: Knoll M, Burger P. (Eds.), Camels in Asia and North Africa: Interdisciplinary perspectives on their past and present significance, 1st Ed. Academy of Sciences Press, Wienne, Austrian, pp. 27-33.

Hussein HS, Kasim AA, Shawa YR. 1987. The prevalence and pathology of Eimeria infections in camels in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Comparative Pathology, 97(3): 293–297. https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9975(87)90093-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9975(87)90093-4

Iwaki T, Okada T, Seki K, Izawa K, Sakurai F. 2012. Ogmocotyle ailuri (Price, 1954) (Digenea: Notocotylidae) found in the Japanese monkey, Macaca fuscata. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 74: 1211–1212. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.11-0572 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.11-0572

Junker K, Horak IG, Penzhorn B. 2015. History and development of research on wildlife parasites in southern Africa, with emphasis on terrestrial mammals, especially ungulates. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 4: 50–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2014.12.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2014.12.003

Kheirandish R, Nourollahi-Fard SR, Faryabi Z. 2012. Prevalence and pathologic study of Eimeria cameli in slaughtered camels. Eurasian Journal of Veterinary Science, 28(3): 138–141.

Luna LG. 1968. Routine Harris hematoxylin and eosin stain. Histopathology Laboratories, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 3rd Ed. Washington DC, US, pp. 38-39.

Mohandesan E, Fitak RR, Corander J, Yadamsuren A, Chuluunbat B, Abdelhadi O, Raziq A, Nagy P, Stalder G, Walzer C, Faye B & Burger PA. 2017. Mitogenome sequencing in the genus Camelus reveals evidence for purifying selection and long-term divergence between wild and domestic Bactrian camels. Scientific reports, 7(1): 9978. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-08995-8

Parsani HR, Singh V, Momin RR. 2008. Common parasitic diseases of camel. Veterinary World, 1(10): 317–318.

Sazmand A, Joachim A. 2017. Parasitic diseases of camels in Iran (1931–2017) - a literature review. Parasite, 24: 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2017024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2017024

Zhao Y, Zhang K, Zou M, Sun Y, Peng X. 2018. gga-miR-451 negatively regulates Mycoplasma gallisepticum (HS strain)-induced inflammatory cytokine production via targeting YWHAZ. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19(4):1191. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19041191 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19041191