Seasonal fluctuations of gastrointestinal helminths of camels in Kuwait.

Over a period of 1 year, from May 1982 to April 1983, the gastrointestinal tracts of 240 camels were examined for the presence of parasitic helminths. The study quantifies the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths and the seasonal fluctuations in intestinal worm burdens and faecal worm egg counts. Among the three species of cestodes and eight species of nematodes which were recorded for the first time from Kuwait, Trichostrongylus probolurus (93.8%), T. colubriformis (34.2%) and Stilesia vittata (30.0%) were the most prevalent in the small intestine and Camelostrongylus mentulatus (59.6%) in the abomasum. Estimation of the intestinal worm burdens and faecal worm egg counts showed that Trichostrongylus infections were by far the most predominant. The highest worm and egg counts were recorded in June and August, during the hot dry season. This rise is attributed to infections acquired from February to April, during the cool wet season. Possibly the most effective control can be achieved by a critical treatment at the end of the wet season coinciding with the first rise in nematode population.

Hydatidosis in camels in Kuwait.

Infection of indigenous camels, Camelus dromedarius, with hydatid cysts has been recorded for the first time in Kuwait. From February 1982 to April 1983, 293 camels slaughtered for human consumption were examined. The overall rate of infection was 39.6%: 18.5% in animals less than 6 years old, and between 40.1% and 45.2% in older animals. The infection rate in females (44.9%) was significantly higher than in males (24.7%). Females also showed higher susceptibility to infections in multiple organs (22.7%) than males (10.5%). The lung was the most predominant site infected (63.0%). Pulmonary cysts showed a higher fertility rate than hepatic cysts (71.7% vs 29.2%) and were smaller and more numerous. The high infection rate recorded for this animal is probably related to recent shifts in animal maintenance from the traditional free-grazing to the corralling system.

Schistosoma mansoni: immunofluorescent detection of its antigen reacting with Biomphalaria glabrata amoebocytes.

The reaction of amoebocytes in the hemolymph of the infected intermediate host, Biomphalaria glabrata, to Schistosoma mansoni antigens has been investigated using the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test. Monolayers of amoebocytes, prepared from hemolymph of infected and normal snails, were first fixed and then reacted with antisera obtained from mice infected for 7 to 9 weeks. Nonspecific and cross-reactions between the antisera and monolayers of amoebocytes were eliminated by absorbing the antisera with tissues from uninfected snails. The liberation of detectable schistosomal antigens in the hemolymph in soluble and particulate forms coincided with completion of the infection cycle 3 to 4 weeks after exposure to miracidia. The schistosomal antigens were demonstrable in the cytoplasm of amoebocytes and in the center of amoebocyte aggregates.