Parasitic Diseases of Camels in Iran (1931–2017) – a Literature Review
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Parasite 2017, 24,21 Ó A. Sazmand & A. Joachim, published by EDP Sciences, 2017 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2017024 Available online at: www.parasite-journal.org REVIEW ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS Parasitic diseases of camels in Iran (1931–2017) – a literature review Alireza Sazmand1,2,* and Anja Joachim2 1 Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, School of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Postal Code 8915173160 Yazd, Iran 2 Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria Received 2 March 2017, Accepted 28 May 2017, Published online 15 June 2017 Abstract – Parasitic diseases of camels are major causes of impaired milk and meat production, decreases in performance or even death. Some camel parasites also represent a threat to human health. About 171,500 one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) and 100–300 two-humped camels (Camelus bactrianus) live in Iran. Knowledge of the biodiversity of their parasites is still limited. The present review covers all information about camel parasitic diseases in Iran published as dissertations and in both Iranian and international journals from 1931 to February 2017. Ten genera of Protozoa (Trypanosoma, Eimeria, Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma, Neospora, Sarcocystis, Besnoitia, Theileria, Babesia and Balantidium), 48 helminth species detected in the digestive system, including three species of Trematoda, four species of Cestoda, and 41 species of Nematoda, as well as helminths from other organs – Echinococcus spp., Dictyocaulus filaria, Thelazia leesei, Dipetalonema evansi and Onchocerca fasciata – have so far been described in Iranian camels. Furthermore, 13 species of hard ticks, mange mites, the myiasis flies Cephalopina titillator and Wohlfahrtia magnifica, and immature stages of the Pentastomida Linguatula serrata have also been reported from camels of Iran. Camel parasitic diseases are a major issue in Iran in terms of economics and public health. The present review offers information for an integrated control programme against economically relevant parasites of camels. Key words: dromedary, Bactrian camel, Camelus, review, Iran. Résumé – Maladies parasitaires des dromadaires en Iran (1931–2017) – Revue de la littérature. Les maladies parasitaires sont des causes majeures de diminution de production du lait et de la viande, diminution des performances ou même mort. Certains parasites de dromadaires représentent également une menace pour la santé humaine. Environ 171 500 dromadaires (Camelus dromedarius) et 100 à 300 chameaux à deux bosses (Camelus bactrianus) vivent en Iran. La connaissance de la biodiversité de leurs parasites est encore limitée. La présente revue couvre toutes les informations sur les maladies parasitaires des Camelidae en Iran qui ont été publiées dans des thèses et dans des revues iraniennes et internationales de 1931 à février 2017. Dix genres de Protozoaires (Trypanosoma, Eimeria, Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma, Neospora, Sarcocystis, Besnoitia, Theileria, Babesia et Balantidium), 48 espèces d’helminthes détectées dans le système digestif, dont trois espèces de Trematoda, quatre espèces de Cestoda et 41 espèces de Nematoda, ainsi que des helminthes d’autres organes – Echinococcus spp., Dictyocaulus filaria, Thelazia leesei, Dipetalonema evansi et Onchocerca fasciata – ont jusqu’ici été décrits chez les Camelidae iraniens. En outre, 13 espèces de tiques, des acariens, les mouches à myiases Cephalopina titillator et Wohlfahrtia magnifica, et les stades immatures du Pentastomide Linguatula serrata ont également été signalés chez les Camelidae en Iran. Les maladies parasitaires des Camelidae doivent être considérées comme un problème en Iran en termes d’importance économique et de santé publique. La présente revue offre des informations pour un programme de contrôle intégré contre les parasites économiquement pertinents des Camelidae. *Corresponding author: [email protected] This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 2 A. Sazmand & A. Joachim: Parasite 2017, 24,21 Introduction world [19]. T. evansi is now considered as an emerging zoonotic parasite [43]. Trypanosoma was first reported in Camel medicine has a long history in Iran, and the book of Persia in 1876 and was known to be fatal for horses, according Abu Obayda Mamar b. Motanna Bajarvani (died circa 827) on to Haig (reviewed by Lingard [72]). After massive mortality of camels, namely Ketaab al-ebel, in English, The book of more than 3000 horses in 1930 in the south of Iran, dromedaries, is among the earliest works about camels Trypanosoma evansi-like parasites were diagnosed in the blood compiled by a Persian. This book on animal physiology and of diseased animals [26]. T. evansi infection in camels in Iran veterinary science was written in 16 chapters. The 9th century was confirmed for the first time in 1935 by Delpy and Rafyi, physician Ali b. Rabban Tabari abari described the functions of and experimental infections of several mammals with T. evansi parts of the bodies of various animal species: camels, bulls, isolated from an infected camel were performed [30, 160]. The donkeys, elephants, and lions, in the fourth communication therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy of different dosages of of his Ferdaws al-ekma (in English, The paradise of wisdom) NaganolÒ (suramin sodium) and antrycide methyl sulphate (pp. 421–427), and discussed animal diseases and their appro- was studied in naturally infected camels since the dose of priate treatments [154]. Traditional methods for controlling NaganolÒ recommended by the manufacturer was extremely animal diseases were also described. Camels suffering from expensive at that time [13, 123]. Since Iran does not lie within surra (Trypanosoma infection, known in Iran as del zanak) the tsetse belt, trypomastigotes in camels have usually been were firmly bound, and small rocks, heated up in a fire, were assigned to T. evansi according to their morphological and attached to a board that was moved under the neck of the morphometric features upon microscopic examination. animal. This type of cauterisation was believed to confer Prevalence rates between 0 and 19.47% for Trypanosoma protection; it perhaps stimulates the immune system [164]. infections have been reported in camels. However, there are Modern veterinary knowledge found its way into Iran only two sequence-confirmed studies on camel T. evansi infec- during the 1850s via European veterinarians who were mainly tions from Iran (Table 1). In Iran, there is also one report of a in charge of royal stables and military services [154]. However, natural T. evansi infection of a two-humped camel (Camelus the first records of veterinary parasitology activities in Iran are bactrianus)[130]. Outbreaks of Trypanosomosis in dromedary reports by Carpentier in 1931 who diagnosed Trypanosoma herds associated with mortalities and abortions have been evansi-like trypomastigotes in the blood of sick horses in the documented [31, 178]. Although no study has been conducted south of Iran [26]. Since the 1930s, Iranian veterinarians have to examine infestation with known T. evansi vectors in the been trained in faculties of veterinary medicine in Iran and country, reports of natural infections with T. evansi in three have conducted modern veterinary parasitology research. dogs in Tehran [59], one horse in Shiraz [15], and one water According to the latest official report, there are about buffalo in Ahvaz [135] with no history of travel, show that 171,500 Old World Camels (OWCs) including one-humped non-cyclic transmission occurs. (dromedary) and two-humped (Bactrian) camels (only 100–300 individuals) in Iran, which are scattered throughout 21 of the 31 Iranian provinces [5]. In this article, we review Eimeriosis the published research on the parasites of camels in Iran from Coccidiosis of camels is an intestinal protozoan infection 1931 to February 2017. caused by apicomplexan parasites of the genus Eimeria. Disease caused by these parasites is of great economic impor- Methods tance because of losses due to enteritis, diarrhoea and poor weight gain [172]. Camels harbour their own species of The authors checked all available documents on each of the Eimeria including E. cameli, E. rajasthani, E. bactriani, search terms which included a combination of Iran or Iranian – E. dromedarii, E. pellerdyi and E. leuckarti in OWC [71, in Persian and English – with one of the generic names of the 172]. Data on the frequency and diversity of Eimeria species camel parasites as mentioned in reference books ‘‘The Camel in dromedaries and Bactrian camels are limited to seven stud- in Health and Diseases’’ [55], ‘‘Infectious Diseases in Came- ies which were based on coproscopy, except one that reported lids’’, 2nd edition [171], and ‘‘Camelid Infectious Disorders’’ tissue alterations caused by Eimeria spp. [68]. Overall preva- [172]. The databases and search engines employed for the pre- lences varying between 9.51% and 63% have been reported sent literature review were those of PubMed (www.pubmed. (Table 2). All reports concerned dromedary camels, except gov), Google (www.google.com), Scientific Information one that included Bactrian camels [174]. Database of Iran (www.sid.ir) and the collection of defended theses at all Iranian Universities (www.irandoc.ac.ir).