Occurrence of gastrointestinal helminths of bactrian camel in Iran

A systemic study on naturally acquired gastrointestinal helminth parasites of bactrian camel was carried out in Ardabil province, northwest of Iran, which is the main site of this species in Iran. The low population of this species reveals the importance of this animal in Iran. A total of 25 faecal samples (25% of population) were examined by Clayton lane method to determine the egg count of different types of nematodes in different age groups. Nematode eggs were found in 13 (52%) of the faecal samples (0–191 eggs/gm, 51.96±13.82). Bactrian camels were infected with Nematodirus (32%), Strongyloides (16%), Trichuris (32%), Marshallagia (28%) and Moniezia (28%). The age of the infected bactrian camels was signifcantly higher than the non-infected camels (p<0.01) and there was a signifcant correlation between age and the intensity of infection (r=0.583, p=0.002). No signifcant difference was found between the 2 sexes in the ratio of the affected camels and in the intensity of infection. The results of the current study showed that helminthic infection is a serious problem in camel of Iran.