Prevalence of bacterial and fungal diseases in dromedary camels in the Rajasthan state of India

Abstract

Survey was carried out to investigate the occurrence of bacterial and fungal diseases in camels in thickly camel populated areas in semi-arid and arid climatic conditions of Rajasthan state. Amongst skin infections, fungal infections were more prevalent than the bacterial infections. Skin infections were observed more in the winter season preceding rainy season and were more prevalent in young calves of less than one year of age followed by aged (>15 yrs), active grower (1-5 yrs) and adults (5-15 yrs). A total of 32 species of various fungi were isolated and identified from camel skin infections. Mastitis was mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus and was more prevalent in peak yielders between 6-12 years of age. Incidence of abortion was found to increase with the advancement in the age of the animal. One serum sample from aborted field cases was positive for antibrucella antibodies, whereas all samples from pregnant animals of organised herd were negative for antibrucella antibodies. Only sporadic cases of actinobacillosis were observed and recorded. Actinobacillosis was more prevalent in summer followed by rainy and winter seasons. Actinobacillosis lesions were more prevalent in young calves and the incidence decreased with the advancement of the age of the animal. Diarrhoea was commonly observed in the rainy season followed by winter season. Fifty per cent of the diarrhoeic faecal samples examined were positive for Gram positive Corynebacterium spp. Pasturellosis was recorded as a herd out break after heavy rain fall in the month of November. Various bacterial isolates from different infections included S. aureus, S. epidermidis, Corynebacterium spp., Pseudomonas spp., Streptococcus spp., Bacillus spp., Escherichia coli and Pasturella spp. In considering antibacterial sensitivity, tetracycline is still found to be a very effective drug for treatment of various bacterial infections in camels.