Camel Dermatophilosis in Kenya, Sudan and Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Camel dermatophilosis has been found in Kenya, Sudan and Saudi Arabia. Camel dermatiophilosis has been reported in Kenya from Samburu and Laikipia districts. In Sudan it has been described in outbreaks in the Butana region and in Saudi Arabia there were outbreaks in a commercial dairy farm in the Buraidah region. The clinico-epidemiological patterns and bacterial isolates were compared. In all cases, it was found that camel calves were more seriously affected than adults. The disease affected most parts of the skin. Affected animals were weak and unable to feed properly. The fatality rates ranged from 0% in Saudi Arabia to 30% in Sudan. Confirmation of the disease was by bacterial isolation and histopathlogy. All the bacterial isolates had similar biochemical properties. In Saudi Arabia, however, mixed infection involving Dermatophilus congolensis and Microsporum gypseum were found in forty eight camels which had discrete circumscribed lesions. This is in contrast to the mainly confluent crusty hairless brown lesions caused by Dermatophilus congolensis. Dermatophilus congolensis is one of the conditions that impede camel production in the three countries.