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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #354810
Research Project: Detection and Control of Foodborne Parasites for Food Safety

Location: Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory

Title: Gametogony of Eimeria cameli in small intestine of one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Author
item Dubey, Jitender
item SCHUSTER, ROLF - Central Veterinary Research Laboratory
item KINNE, JOERG - Central Veterinary Research Laboratory

Submitted to: Parasitology Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/23/2018
Publication Date: 9/10/2018
Citation: Dubey, J.P., Schuster, R., Kinne, J. 2018. Gametogony of Eimeria cameli in small intestine of one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius). Parasitology Research. 117:3633-3638. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-6064-7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-6064-7

Interpretive Summary: Toxoplasma, Neospora, Sarcocystis, Eimeria, and Cystoisopora are related coccidian parasites that cause severe illness in livestock. Oocyst is the environmentally resistant stage passed in feces of the definitive hosts. While Toxoplasma and Neospora have wide host range, Eimeria are generally host specific. Eimeria cameli is a pathogenic coccidium of camels and coccidiosis is an important disease of camels. The life cycle of this parasite is not fully known. In the present paper, authors describe details of development of E. cameli in the small intestine of naturally infected camels. These results will be of interest to parasitologists and veterinarians in diagnosis of coccidiosis in camels.

Technical Abstract: Domesticated Old World camels (Camelus dromedarius and C. bactrianus) are important for the economy of several countries in Asia, Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula, and coccidiosis is an important disease in camels. There is confusion concerning the species of coccidian parasites in camels and their life cycles. Although five species of Eimeria; E. cameli, E. rajasthani, E. dromedarii, E. bactriani, and E. pellerdyi were named from camels, E. cameli, is considered the most pathogenic. Here, development of gametogonic stages and oocysts of E. cameli are described in the lamina propria of small intestines of naturally infected camels. Only sexual stages have been confirmed.