1.Physiological and epidemiological study of some parasitic and viral enteric infections in dromedary camels in Al-Muthanna province
Al-Yasari, A.M.R. ; Alsalih, N.J. ; Alsaadawi, M.A.
Tropical Biomedicine 2024;41(No.1):1-13
Understanding the normal physiology of the body is the key to study the changes that occur due to any
infection. It is known that enteric infections play a considerable role in affecting normal body status.
Thus, this study was designed for investigating the enteric infections in Arabian camels in Al-Muthanna
Province. In this investigation, 588 fecal and blood serum samples (for diarrheic camels only) were
collected from the camels in different areas of Al-Muthanna Province, Iraq from both sexes of different
ages during the period from October 2020 up to the end of August 2021. The samples were examined
using routine microscopic examination techniques, hematological techniques, and ELISA for parasitic
and viral identification. Eimeria rajasthani, Isospora orlovi were recorded for the first time in Iraqi
camels with clinical signs of diarrhea, dehydration, and emaciation. The study recorded four types of
protozoa: Eimeria spp., Isospora, Cryptosporidium and Balantidium coli. The recorded types of Eimeria
were E. dromedarii, E. cameli, and E. rajasthani. There was a significant effect of age on infection rates
with Eimeria spp. as the highest Eimeria ratio was in ages of less than two years animals. The infection
rates were also affected with months which reached the highest ratios of Eimeria in October while the
lowest ratio of Eimeria was recorded in July. BVDV infection rate was found in camels that suffered from
diarrhea. There is no significant effect of sex on the onset of the viral disease in camels. For hematological
parameters, there were significant differences in RBCs, WBCs, Hb, and PCV values in protozoal and BVDV
infections. In conclusion, different kinds of protozoal and viral infections were recorded. Some of the
recorded infections were associated with acute clinical signs and have zoonotic importance.
2.Hematological and histopathological changes of rat’s hearts experimentally infected with protoscoleces
Alsaadawi, M.A. ; Al-Safar, A.H. ; Al-Yasari, A.M. ; Hussein, H.M. ; Allawi, A.H. ; Alsalih, N.J. ; Kalef, D.A.
Tropical Biomedicine 2022;39(No.1):117-125
Hydatidosis; is a zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus and characterized by
infiltration of inflammatory cells. This study was investigated the hematological and
histopathological changes in the hearts of rats injected with protoscoleces. Rats were injected
with protoscoleces collected from either liver of sheep, goats, and cows (from the abattoir of
Al-Muthanna province, south of Iraq) or isolated from infected humans from Al-Hussein
Teaching Hospital. Sheep protoscoleces showed a significant increase of lymphocytes that
refer to the induction of a high response of the immune system in rats. The numbers of WBC,
RBCs, and platelets were generally increased in rats injected with protoscoleces isolated
from sheep and goats. These changes could refer to the activation of defense mechanisms
against the hydatid injected materials. However, the levels of MCV, MCH, MCHC, MPV and
PDW were less than normal values. Heart sections of rats injected with protoscoleces isolated
from humans showed clear histological changes. While TSP, TGP and TCP exhibited variant
histopathological changes such as infiltration of inflammatory cells, pink glass appearance
and congestion of arteries. Thus, these alterations can be considered as additional evidence
of how the immune response reacts against the injected materials in the heart.