Molecular identification of Tick-Borne zoonotic bacteria in one humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

In this study, the presence of tick-borne zoonotic bacteria (Borrelia spp., Coxiella burnetii and Rickettsiae spp.) in camel blood samples were examined using by PCR. A total of 50 blood samples were collected from one humped dromedary camels found in western side of Aegean region which had tick infestation in their anamnesis. Three pathogens, viz Borrelia burgdorferi, C. burnetii and Rickettsiae spp. were detected in camel blood samples. A single PCR was performed for the C. burnetii and multiplex PCR for the Rickettsiae spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi. At the end of PCR study, C. burnetii was identified at the rate of 4% out of 50 blood samples. Borrelia burgdorferi and Rickettsiae spp. were not detected from all blood samples. The results showed that tick-borne zoonotic pathogens may come up with risk factors for Camelus dromedarius population. For this reason, it is important to increase microbiological studies for Camelus dromedarius populations.