Prevalence and Pathology of Nasal Myiasis in Camels Slaughtered in El-Zawia Province-Western Libya: with a Reference to Thyroid Alteration and Renal Lipidosis

Camel botfly, Cephalopina titillator, causes severe economic losses to the camel industry in many camel-producing areas of the world. This investigation was carried out randomly on camels slaughtered in El-Zawia abattoir, Western Libya, on 589 camels 149 females and 440 males. The investigation has not only focused on the prevalence and pathology of that disease, but also on its other impacts like thyroid alteration and its subsequent expositions. After slaughtering, the head was dissected and grossly inspected for presence of C. titillator larvae and other gross abnormalities. It was found that 79% were infested with this larvae (68.4% in males and 44.9% in females) and the rate of infestation was significantly greater in the colder months (68.8%) compared to those of warmer ones (31%) and in males (65.0%) compared to those of the female camels (45.60%). The prevalence rate was lower in camels younger than 2 years old (39.8%) compared to those of 2-6 (61.5%) and over 6 years old (62.8%). Proper tissue sections from nasal cavity, pharynx, turbinates and frontal sinuses of 30 infested camels were examined histopathologically and showed serious tissue alterations of the mucosal epithelium of the nasopharyngeal region varied from inflammatory reaction, degeneration, necrosis and cystic dilatation of the submucosal glands with various degrees of reparative processes. Focal to diffuse meningitis and conspicuous colloid goiter was observed in the thyroid sections of the corresponding cases. All accompanied with renal lipidosis. Serum samples analysis of infested camels revealed significant decrease in T3 and T4, non-significant decrease in TSH, significant decrease in HDL as well as a significant increase in LDL and cholesterol levels. It was concluded that camel nasal botfly infestation is responsible for the pathological changes and functional alterations in the thyroid gland of camels with its subsequent impacts.