Intestinal Parasitic Infections of Camels in the Agro and Pastoral Areas of Northern Tanzania

The prevalence of faecal intestinal parasite eggs and species spectrum was studied in relation to host and management variables in camels in the northern Tanzania. A total of 193 camels of all age and sex were examined between June and August 2010. Collected faecal samples were processed by sedimentation and floatation methods and then examined for helminth eggs. Coprological examination revealed that 62.7% (n = 121) of the camels excreted helminth eggs in their faeces. Eleven types of helminth/protozoan parasites eggs/oocyst encountered in descending order of prevalence were Strongylus sp. 89.2%, Trichostrongylus sp. 27.3, coccidia 9.9, Strongyloides sp. 6.6, Anaplocephala sp. 3.3, Oxyuris sp. 2.5, Dictyocaulus sp. 2.5, Gastrodiscus sp. 2.5, Parascaris sp. 1.65, Trichonema sp. 0.83 and Triodontophorus sp. 0.83%. Single (64%) and concurrent infections with two, three and four parasites were recorded in 25.6, 8.26 and 1.65%, respectively of the cases. All the factors except source, body condition score and health status affected significantly (at least p<0.05) the prevalence of gastro intestinal parasite infections. The high prevalence and wide spectrum observed in the present study suggests that helminth infection are widespread at the farms/herds examined and may be a constraint to economic camel production in the country and there is need to institute control measures.