VETERINARY CLINICAL SCIENCE

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Gross and histopathological observations on gastro-intestinal helminthosis in

camels

J.B. Solanki*, J.J. Hasnani, K.M. Panchal and P.V. Patel

Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anand Agricultural University,
Anand-388001, Gujarat, India.

Abstract
The present study was conducted to observe the gross and
microscopic changes in gastro-intestinal tract during helminth infestation in
*Corresponding Author: camels. Grossly, abomasum showed varying degrees of ulceration,
congestion of mucosa, thickened walls and oedematous folds associated
J.B. Solanki (Ph.D) with haemorrhagic foci due to presence of Haemonchus spp. worms.
E-mail: drjbsolankivet@gmail.com Histopathologically, abomasum revealed hyperemic mucosa and the
hyperplasia of the glands with cellular infiltration mainly of lymphocytes
and eosinophils. Small intestine infected with Strongyloides spp. and
Trichostrongylus spp. worms showed oedematous and congested mucosa
Received: 07/12/2013 with few petecheal haemorrhages. Histopathologically, the loss of villi,
Revised: 20/12/12013 thickened mucosa and heavy infiltration of inflammatory cells in the
Accepted: 22/12/2013
mucosa and sub-mucosa of the duodenum were observed. Large intestine
infected with Trichuris spp. revealed thickened and oedematous mucosa
with focal haemorrhages. There was ulcer and nodule formation with
thickening of the caecal wall. Microscopically, intestine revealed catarrhal
inflammation and necrosis of gland with eosinophilic infiltration. The
results revealed that the overall prevalence of helminthic infection was
68.01 per cent.
Keywords: Camel, histopathology, helminthosis, intestine
Introduction
The camel forms an integral part of the culture Trichostrongylus spp. may contribute to the
and agriculture of many countries since thousands of debilitating effects (Soulsby, 2006). The damage
years (Dorman, 1986). Camels play many significant caused by helminths (nematodes) included abundant
roles in social and economic development for people in mucus secreting gastric cells, flattening of the mucosa,
numerous countries. Pathogenic diseases, poor villous atrophy, haemorrhages and cellular infiltration,
nutrition and traditional management systems have mainly of eosinophils. These lesions could reduce the
restricted their full utilization. The camel has been productivity of the infected dromedary through
considered an aid to man for thousands of years in disturbance of intestinal absorption (McGavin and
many different respects by providing meat, milk and Zachary, 2007). Pathological effects of infestation lead
wool as well as transportation and labor. Despite being to reduction in the quality and quantity of meat and
usually reared under harsh environment, unsuitable for wool by reducing appetite and causing poor utilization
propagation and transmission of helminths, camels are of nutritional substances, which may lead to low
capable of harbouring a fairly large variety of these fertility, abortion and death (Windsor et al., 1992;
parasites. Helminth infestation is very much prevalent Leguia, 1991). Anaemia is one of the pathogenic
in camel and it imposes considerable constraints on effects of gastrointestinal parasites (Soulsby, 2006).
camel health and production, thereby causing This study, therefore, aims at highlighting the gross and
economical losses to camel owners. Moreover, few histopathological changes in camels infected with
studies have been conducted on gastro-intestinal tract gastro-intestinal helminths.
(GIT) helminths of camels (Bekele, 2002).
Haemonchus longistipes is the most pathogenic Materials and Methods
Strongyle nematode of camels that may be associated The study was undertaken for the period of
with clinical disease and can be fatal. twelve months from June, 2008 to May, 2009 to reveal

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 Solanki et al..Gross and histopathological observations on gastro-intestinal helminthosis in camels

the helminthic infection in faecal samples of camels.
The specimens for the proposed investigation were
collected from the carcasses of camel irrespective of
sex, age and breeds. Entire gastrointestinal tract of
fifteen carcasses were collected and examined for the
presence of helminths. The gross characteristics of the
lesions were described and recorded. Selectively, tissue
specimens were collected, preserved in 10 per cent
formalin solution and processed by routine paraffin
embedding technique. The paraffin sections of 6-8 m
thickness were cut and stained by routine Mayers
Haematoxylin and Eosin staining method.
Results and Discussion
Haemonchus spp. worms were identified from
abomasum. Macroscopic lesions caused by
Haemonchus spp. included thickened walls and
oedematous folds associated with focal areas of
haemorrhages. Abomasum showed varying degrees of
ulceration and congestion of the mucosa.
Histologically, there were inflammatory reactions
mainly of lymphocytes and eosinophils and hyperemia
in the abomasal mucosa with hyperplasia of abomasal
glands of infected animals (Fig. 1). There was
sloughing of epithelium, dilated and elongated glands
with necrosis of the same in some cases with
infiltration of inflammatory cells. Similar observations
were also made by Borji et al. (2010). Abomasum also
had varying degrees of ulceration due to feeding of
Haemonchus spp. worms and congestion of mucosa has
been described by various researchers (Graber, 1979;
Arzoun et al., 1984; Jacquiet, 1995; Bekele, 2002). The
sloughing of epithelium, dilated and elongated glands
with necrosis with infiltration of inflammatory cells
was also noted as reported by Bekele (2002) in camels
in Ethiopia. Strongyloides spp. and Trichostrongylus
spp. worms were identified from small intestine.
Grossly, small intestine infected with these worms
showed small petecheal haemorrhages and the mucosa
was oedematous and congested. Histopathological
study revealed loss of intestinal villi with eosinophilic
infiltration. There was thickened mucosa with
infiltration of inflammatory cells in duodenum. There
was heavy infiltration of inflammatory cells in the
mucosa and sub-mucosa (Fig. 2). There was sloughing
of epithelium and hyperplasia of duodenal glands (Fig.
3 and 4). There was villous atrophy and the loss of villi
with inflammatory reactions in the lamina propria.
Necrosis of glands and haemorrhages with elongated
crypts were the major lesions encountered. The present
histopathological findings remain in agreement with
the findings of earlier workers (Tafti et al., 2001; Borji
et al., 2010). Areas of haematoma and congestion of
mucosa of small intestine due to presence of these
worms were also noted. There was thickened mucosa
with infiltration of inflammatory cells in duodenum.
There was necrosis of glands and haemorrhages with
elongated crypts as reported earlier by Bekele (2002).
Trichuris spp. worms were mainly identified
from large intestine. Infection of Trichuris spp. in large
intestine caused thickening of mucosa with
haemorrhagic foci. Trichuris spp. of nematode attached
in haemorrhagic lesions with oedematous mucosa was
the main finding. Grossly, large intestine showed
congestion and haemorrhagic spots, ulcers formation
and nodule formation with thickening of the caecal
wall. Histopathological study of intestine revealed
catarrhal inflammation and necrosis of glands.

Fig 1: Hyperplasia of abomasal glands (H&E, 100 X) Fig 2: Sub-mucosal infiltration in duodenum (H&E, 100 X)

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 Solanki et al..Gross and histopathological observations on gastro-intestinal helminthosis in camels
Fig 3: Hyperplasia of duodenal glands (H&E, 100 X)
The study also revealed disruption of epithelium
of intestinal villi with eosinophilic infiltration. Large
intestinal mucosa showed desquamation of epithelium.
There was flattened epithelium with a few dilated
glands and hyperemia with moderate increase in
inflammatory cells composed of lymphocytes and
eosinophils. Similar lesions were also reported earlier
by Levine (1968), El Bihari, (1985), Nafady et al.
(1997), Tafti et al. (2001), Chhabra and Gupta (2006)
and Borji et al. (2010).
Haemonchus spp., Trichostrogylus spp.,
Strogyloides spp. and Trichuris spp. worms were also
recovered from digestive tract content of camel by
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Acknowledgements
Authors are grateful to the Dean and Principal
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