)2(8;2201Journal of American Science, of American Science, )2(8;2201Journal http://www.americanscience.org Comparative Studies of Rumen pH, Total Protozoa Count, Generic and Species Composition of Ciliates in Camel, Buffalo, Cattle, Sheep and Goat in Egypt Baraka, T. A Dept. Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. Dept. Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
[email protected] Abstract: Rumen liquor samples were collected from 180 domestic ruminants (30 camels, 35 buffaloes, 48 cattle, 32 sheep and 35 goats) belonging to private farms in Egypt and examined for determination of rumen pH, total protozoa count (TPC), generic and species composition, identification, description and measurement of rumen ciliates dimensions. Rumen pH of camels, buffaloes, cattle, sheep and goats were 6.84±0.08, 6.65±0.34, 6.82±0.12, 6.06±0.05 and 6.25±0.07, respectively; while total protozoa count (×104/ml) were 14.18±17.9, 16.02±3.41, 11.35±2.53, 28.13±4.13 and 13.38±2.26, respectively. The exclusive diverse species of protozoa were 4 in camels, 7 in buffaloes, 10 in cattle, 1in sheep and 1 in goats. The common species presented in all ruminants were Dasytricha ruminatum, Entodinium caudatum f. caudatum, Ent. exiguum, Epidinium caudatum and Epid. Bicaudatum. In camels, buffaloes, cattle, sheep and goats the number of recognized genera was 9, 9, 12, 6 and 7; while the number of species was 25, 22, 38, 14 and 19 respectively. Fifty four recognized ciliates were morphologically described; their dimensions were measured and illustrated in figures.