Abstract

Giemsa-stained peripheral blood smears from 114 apparently healthy dromedary camels aged 3 months to 18 years, kept in husbandaries of Yazd, Iran, during summer 2008 were examined microscopically. Piroplasm organisms were found in blood films of 18 camels (15.79), all of them being adult and over 5 years old. The frequency of camel piroplasmosis in the study area is considerable. Serum samples obtained from jugular vein of the 110 adult camels were tested for 19 selected serum biochemical, enzymatic and hormonal parameters. There was no significant abnormality in those parameters (P>0.05). Piroplasmids do not seem to induce significant alteration in routine serum laboratory tests in naturally-infected dromedary camels. Previous publications about camel piroplasmosis, although a bit discordant, mainly support the idea of subclinical nature of this infection.