Mange has been considered one of the most common parasitic infestations among camels. It adversely impacts animal productivity and poses a risk to human health. Given the scarcity of available data about mange in camels, the current study focused on the prevalence of camel mange and its associated risk factors in Aswan Governorate, Egypt. Towards this end, a general visual inspection was conducted on camels (N = 210) in different markets and slaughterhouses in Aswan Governorate. Skin scrapings from suspect infected camels were also examined microscopically. Importantly, these findings were further checked and confirmed by histopathology on samples from suspected cases collected post-slaughter in abattoirs. The possible risk-associated factors, which include the camel’s age, sex and sampling season, were recorded and statistically analyzed. Interestingly, the data showed that a total of 100 camels (47.6%) were found exclusively infested by sarcoptic mange. Furthermore, the predominant histopathological changes included burrowing tunnel of mites in the skin, hyperkeratosis and acanthosisconsis of the epidermis, while the dermis showed hemorrhage, mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltration around the blood vessels and perifolliculitis. These major histopathological findings are consistent with sarcoptic mange. Furthermore, the statistical analysis of the possible associated risk factors, camel’s age (p = 0.006), gender (p = 0.032) and sampling season (p = 0.004), were all found to be significantly affected and related to the disease. In this regard, camels ≥2 years old were found at higher risk of infection (odds ratio (OR) = 2.75; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.345 to 5.604) versus younger animals (OR = 0.36; 95 CI, 0.1784 to 0.743). Females had higher odds of exposure (OR = 2.02; 95% CI, 1.096 to 3.708) compared to males (OR = 0.50; 95% CI, 0.269 to 0.912). Moreover, the exposure to infection was reported higher in winter (OR = 2.30; 95% CI, 1.297 to 4.098) than in summer (OR = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.244 to 0.771). Collectively, our data provide novel epidemiological and histopathological support for sarcoptic mange being widespread among camels in the studied area. Sarcoptic mange is extremely contagious and zoonotic. Therefore, our baseline investigation indicates an urgent need for additional multicenter-studies to investigate the occurrence of this disease in camels and humans combined with the appropriate control measures of camel importation for combating this disease.

Background In spite of the global economic significance of sheep production, little is known about the prevalence of various Sarcocystis spp. infecting the domestic sheep ( Ovis aries) in Egypt.

In the current report, a preliminary observation to study the adverse effects of the broad use acaricides fipronil (FPN) in rabbits infested with Psoroptes cuniculi. Two separate groups (5 rabbits/each) treated topically (poured on at the base of the neck) with fipronil 5%, 1 vial/ 10 kilogram body weight (kg bw) and 1 vial/ 5 kg bw. After FPN spot on application, rabbits in both groups examined microscopically on the 7th, 14th, and 28th day post treatment and the number of live mites (larvae, nymphs, and adults) on each rabbit counted at the end of the experiment (28th day). The results showed that the number of mites in rabbits topically treated with FPN did not show significant decrease, moreover a decrease in both treated rabbits body weight (bw) and in performance observed clearly, with some attendant mortality. In conclusion, this work showed that FPN was with limited efficacy on P. cuniculi and had some undesirable side effects. Further and in-depth studies on FPN toxicity in rabbits and other animals are necessary.

Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus Fish Infected with Digenean Metacercariae: Experimental Infection of Puppies and Some Chemical Alterations in Fish

Molecular and Phylogenetic Study Based on Two Mitochondrial DNA Genes of Rabbit Pinworm “Passalurus ambiguus”