Detection of Theileria infection in dromedary camels

ABSTRACT

Camels are important source of meat and wool. These products depend mainly on the general health conditions which are affected by infection with several diseases such as blood parasites. The examination was done on 215 camels by Giemsa stained blood films prepared from the blood collected from imported camels slaughtered at three slaughter house in Tripoli-Libya [February July 2008]. Out of 215 examined camels, 14 [6.5%] were infected with Theileria spp. The morphology of the detected Theileria in the erythrocytes was oval forms. The main size measured 1.3 x 0.4 micro m. The schizonts inside the lymphocyte were irregular in shape and showed varying number of red granules. Hyalomma dromedarii were identified from the camels infected with Theileria