Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical, haematological and biochemical changes in natural infected camels (Camelus dromedaries) with blood parasite Anaplasma marginale. A total of (62) camels 5-10 years old from both sexes were investigated (52) camels were naturally infected with Anaplasma marginale (10) clinically normal camels served as control the results indicated that the clinically infected camels showed signs of pale mucus membranes, loss of appetite, emaciation, diarrhea and or constipation, rough hair coat, lacrimation, coughing. Ticks were noticed and detected on several locations at the Camels body. High body temperature, respiratory and heart rates were also recorded in addition to a reduction on ruminal contractions. The statistical analysis appeared significant decrease in the TRBCs, HB and PCV, while a significant increase in MCV and ESR were encountered in infected camels. Macrocytic normochromic type of anemia was registered and the percentage of parasitemia ranged between (5-11%). There were no significant difference encountered in clotting factors indices. The results also indicated a significant increase in WBC as a result of significant increase and decrease in lymphocytes and neutrophiles, respectivley. The biochemical changes revealed significant increase in AST, ALT, total bilirubin, BUN and icteric index, however significant decrease in total protein values were encountered in infected camels.

INTRODUCTION

Anaplasmosis is an infectious, non contagious, tick born disease of domesticated and wild ruminants. Fever, progressive anemia, digestive disturbances, emaciation are the main characteristics of this disease (Radostitis et al., 2000).

The disease has worldwide distribution, particularly in tropical and sub tropical regions. It has been also recorded in some temperate areas, the disease occur sporadically or as outbreaks leading to substantial significant economic losses (Smith, 1996). In Iraq, the disease has wide distribution especially at the north areas (Alsaad, 2007a).

Studies of anaplasosis in camels in these areas are very limited and little information had been provided. Although, different reports (Al-Ani, 2004; Ajayi et al., 1984; Wernery and Kaaden, 2002) have been referred for the anaplasmosis in camels, but still this disease is a matter of important for the resrechers, therefore; the goal of this study was to investigate the clinical changes, hematological observation and some biochemical changes as well as the effect of anaplasmosis on clotting factors indices in camels naturally infected with Anaplasma marginale.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Animals and study design: The study were conducted on 62 Arabian (male and female) one-humped camels (Camelus dromedaries), 5-10 years old. The study was carried out in Ninava province (Ninava-Iraq). Fifty two camels were naturally infected with Anaplasma marginale and ten clinically normal camels served as control group. Careful clinical examination had been carried out in all animals and fecal samples were screened for parasitic loud using standard technique.

Blood collection and haematology: Ten milliliter of blood were drained from each animal by jugular vein-puncture, from these 2.5 mL of blood mixed with EDTA used to determine Total erythrocyte count (TRBCs), Hemoglobin (HB), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Platelets Count (Plt), Mean Platelets Volume (MPV), Platelets Distribution Width (PDW), total and differential leukocytes count (Automatic Full Digital cell Counter, Beckman, USA) and Erythrocytes Sedimentation Rate (ESR) by wintrobe method (Meyer and Harvey, 2004), another 2.5 mL of blood mixed with Trisodium citrate were used to determine Prothrombine Time (Prt) and Activated partial thromboplastine time (Aptt) (Coles, 1986). Clotting Time (CT) were also, estimated according to Bush (1975).

Thin blood smears stained with giemsa were used to identified the parasite. Blood serum samples were tested spectrophotometrically for Aspartate amino Transferase (AST), Alanine amino Transferase (ALT), total protein, total bilirubin, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), fibrinogen, using available kids (Biomerex, France) and icteric index according to Coles (1986).

Statistical analysis: Statistical analysis were done using two way analysis of variance and t-test (Stell and Torrie, 1985).

RESULTS

Clinically infected camels showed sings of paleness of mucus membranes, loss of appetite, emaciation, diarrhea with passing of watery fecal materials and/or constipation with dry feaces, rough hair coat, lacrimation with discharging serious ocular discharge, on the other hand some diseased camels were suffer from coughing, ticks were detected on different regions of the body (Table 1).

Statistically significant increase (p>0.01) were encountered in body temperature, respiratory and heart rates, however ruminal contractions were reduced significantly (Table 2).

Anaplasma marginale appears as spherical granules near periphery of infected red cells and parasiteamia ranged between (5-11%) Fig. 1.

There was significant reduction (p>0.01) in the mean values of TRBC, HB, PCV, in infected camels and significant increase (p>0.01) in MCV and sedimentation rate of RBCs, anemia was of macrocytic normochromic type. Results also indicated significant increase (p>0.05) in total leukocytes count, which were due to significant increase (p>0.05) lymphosites and significant decrease (p>0.05) nutrophiles (Table 3 and 4).

Fig. 1:	Anaplasma marginale inside red cells

Moreover, there was no significant difference were encountered in clotting factors indices among infected and control groups of camels (Table 5).

Table 1:	Clinical sings of infected camles with anaplasmosis

Table 2:	Body temperature, respiratory and heart rate and ruminal contractions of infected camels and control group
**p<0.01

Table 3:	Blood parameters of infected camels with anaplasmosis and control group
**p<0.01

Table 4:	Total and differential leukocytes count of infected camels with anaplasmosis and control group
*p<0.05, **p<0.01

Table 5:	Clotting factors indices of infected camels with anaplasmosis and control group

Table 6:	Biochemical parameters of infected camels with anaplasmosis and control group
**p<0.01

Results of biochemical changes indicated significant increase (p>0.01) in AST, ALT, total bilirubin, BUN and icteric index, however signi-ficant decrease (p>0.01) were encountered in total protein values of infected camels (Table 6).

DISCUSSION

The clinical sings observed in infected camels were in agreement with those described by Sayed (1998), Maghaddar (2002) and Higgins (1984) as paleness of mucus membranes were exhibited the develop-ment of anemia and reduction of hemoglobin concentration and total erythrocytes count was due to destruction and removal of infected erythrocytes by the reticulo-endothelial system (Van Houten et al., 1992; Al-Ani et al., 1992) diarrhea and/or constipation, which were observed in infected camels may occur due to digestive disturbances (Kholer-Rollefson et al., 2001) presence of ticks in (76.92%) of infected camels indicated that it’s the important transmitters of anaplasma species (Amanda et al., 2006; Mohammed et al., 2007) increase body temperature may indicated libration of endogenous pyrogens due to cellular lysis stimulating thermoregulatory centers of the hypothalamus (Higgin, 1986).

With respect to hemogram there was a significant decrease in TRBC, HB, PCV, reflecting macrocytic normochromic type of anemia, similar results were recorded by Mohammed et al. (2007) and Maghaddar (2002). The cause of anemia during blood parasitic infection may be multifactorial, the direct effect of the parasite to the infected erythro-cytes may be incriminated or decrease life span of RBCs and also suppression of hemopoitic system (Mahran, 2004), also, (Mohammed et al., 2007; Al-Ani et al., 1992) added that anemia in infected camels with blood parasites is due to extensive erythrophagocytosis initiated by parasitic damage to erythrocytes and the anti-erythrocytic auto antibodies changes in bone marrow are an indication to bone marrow depression. Examination of stained blood films in the current research revealed that Anaplasma marginale appears as spherical granules near periphery of infected erythrocytes, these results were similar to those seen by Maghaddar (2002). Leukocytosis, which accom-panied by increase in the lymphocytes were in agreement with that reported by Middleton (1999) and Rezakhani et al. (1997). The increase in WBC is due to stimulation of lymphoid tissues and stem cells in the bone marrow by the parasite and their toxins (Omuse, 1987), added that leukocytosis occur as a result to lymphoid depletion and disor-ganization with massive lymphocytes, lympho-cytosis especially in anaplasma infected camels agree with that recorded by Mahran (2004), who stated that lymphocytosis was marked during the formation of antibodies in response to antigen and during anaplasma infection. Increase in ESR values were in agreement with Jain (1993) who refer to the correlation between the sedimentation of RBCs and intensity of anemia and increase settling of RBCs will tack place when anemia are more intense.

There were no significant difference encountered in clotting factors indices in current study, similar results were detected by Alsaad (2007b) and Pantanowitz (2003).

Results of biochemical changes indicated significant increase in AST, ALT, total bilirubin, BUN, icteric index and decrease level of total protein, those results were also recorded by Kataria and Bhatia (1991) and Boid and Luckins (1985), who stated that damage to the skeletal or heart muscles, hepatic tissues and erythrocytes may resulted in considerable increase in the level of AST and ALT due to the fact that bulk of those tissues through out the body could be considered as an ample reservoir of enzymes liable to be released and detected during pathological situation (Manna, 1990) added that hyperbilirubinemia, which were seen in camels anaplasmosis resuling from excessive destruction of RBCs and the indirect hepatocellular damage increase level of BUN may indicated indirect damage of renal tissue and the presences of globins catabolites librated from hemoglobin lysis by reticulo-endothelial system through the process of erythrophagocytosis (Qarawi, 1999; Kataria and Bhatia, 1991). There were significant reduction seen in total protein values in this study, which were agree with Brakat et al. (2000) and Sayed (1998), who stated that decrease protein levels during blood parasitic infection may occur due to digestive disturbances, distruction of proteins due to fever as well as less production from liver.

CONCLUSION

Anaplasmosis were affected camels and exhibited different clinical signs, a significant changes were noticed between the infected and control camels in hematological and biochemical values with no differences were indicated in blood clotting indices.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This study was supported by the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul, Iraq.