Serobiochemical Alterations in Subclinically Affected Dromedary Camels with Trypanosoma evansi in Iran

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of subclinical Trypanosoma evansi infection on serum biochemical parameters of dromedary camels. Jugular vein blood samples were taken weekly for three successive weeks from 110 apparently healthy male camels and examined for the presence of trypomastigote form of T. evansi in blood smears. The parasite was seen in 17 (15.45%) blood smears. Various serum biochemical parameters i.e., glucose, urea, cholesterol, triglyceride, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, total protein, albumin, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), cortisol, and activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) were determined. Infected camels had significantly lower serum glucose, T3 and T4 concentrations (P 0.05), and significantly higher triglycerides concentration and ALT activity (P 0.05). It was concluded that subclinical infection of camels with T. evansi can also affect some biochemical parameters.