Parasites Detected by Examination of Fecal Samples in Wrestling Camels

First historical findings on camel wrestling, which is now practiced as a festival in Turkey, particularly in certain regions (Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean) date back to the 15th century. In terms of animal husbandry, parasitic diseases may result in negative outcomes ranging from loss of performance to death for camels. In the present study, annual camel wrestling arenas were visited between December and March (2010-2011), and stool samples were collected from camels from different cities for parasitological analysis. Stool samples of 109 camels from 7 different cities (Aydin, Izmir, Manisa, Denizli, Mugla, Balikesir, and Canakkale) were examined using Baermann-Wetzel stool culture, flotation, and sedimentation techniques for the parasites that live in gastrointestinal tract. The analyses revealed that 74% of the camels (81 of 109) were infected with one or more parasites: Trichostrongylus spp. (47.7%), Ostertagia spp. (27.5%), Dicrocoelium spp. (24.7%), Trichuris spp. (11.9%), Eimeria cameli (11.9%), Capillaria spp. (6.4%), Fasciola spp. (6.4%), Dictyocaulus viviparous (5.5%), Haemonchus spp. (4.5%), Oesophagostomum spp. (4.5%), Cooperia spp. (4.5%), Cooperia oncophora (3.6%), Nematodirus spp. (3.6%), Chabertia ovina (2.7%), Eimeria spp. (1.8%), and Paramphistomum spp. (0.9%). 16 different parasites, at the level of species and genus, were found, of which 14 were helminth (11 nematodes, 3 trematodes), and 2 were protozoans. The present study was the first to report Ostertagia spp., Fasciola spp. Dictyocaulus viviparus, Haemonchus spp., Oesophagostomum spp., Cooperia spp., Cooperia oncophora, Chabertia ovina and Paramphistomum spp. in camels in Turkey. As high as 74 percent of the incidence of parasitic diseases and the wide variety of parasites found in the present study suggest that parasitic infections may be overlooked entity in wrestling camels that are meticulously brought up