THE SARCOCYSTIOSIS CAUSED BY SARCOCYSTIS CAMELI INFESTATION PREVALENCE AMONG CAMELS IN AL-ANBAR GOVERNORATE - IRAQ

Abstract

Abstract: This study included the test of 56 slaughtered camels with different ages and sex number (26 males and 30 females) in different areas in Al-Anbar to investigate "Sarcocystiosis" caused by Sarcocystis cameli by both optical and microscopic tests for the three respective years 2007 , 2008 and 2009 . Results revealed an optical infestation was 1.78% and microscopic infestation (by muscle ingestion with pepsin and fluid testing) of 80.3% . The infestation percent in females was 48.2% which was higher than the infestation percent in males which was 32.1% . The infestation percent had increased as age had increased . The highest infestation percent was 76.8% at age more than four years . Also , the highest average of oesophageal infestation percent was 73.8% and the lowest was 51.8% for cardiac infestation .