EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CAMEL TRYPANOSOMOSIS IN SAUDI ARABIA

Overall prevalence of T. evansi infection among camels in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was 0.8% (n=526) based on parasitological examination and 39.4% (n=198) based on serological examination by CATT/T. evansi. The regional sero-prevalence ranged from 26% in the Eastern region to 46% in the central region. Patent infection was detected only in pastoral camels from the southern region and camels presented at the marketplaces in the central and western regions. None of the sampled camels from the eastern region had patent T. evansi infection. Likewise, neither the camels presented to the veterinary clinics nor those put to slaughter had patent parasitaemia. The results could be attributed to variable practice of anti-trypanosomal drugs usage.