Full Length Research Paper

Studies on major respiratory diseases of Camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Northeastern Ethiopia

Fekadu Kebede and Esayas Gelaye^*

National Veterinary Institute, P. O. Box 19, Debre zeit, Ethiopia.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: egelaye@yahoo.com.

Accepted 16 April, 2010

Abstract

A comparative serological test was carried out to identify the primary causative agent involved in the camel respiratory disease outbreak that occurred in Ethiopia. The samples were collected during and post outbreak time and analyzed for Parainfulenza-3 and pasteurellosis. According to the result, Parainfulenza-3 was found as a primary causative agent as 70.5% in outbreak and 6.8% in surveyed areas and there is a statistical significant variation observed between the outbreak and survey sera samples (P < 0.01). Manhaemiya hemolytica was involved as secondary bacterial complications. The association of Parainfulenza-3 and pasteurellosis was also assessed and has shown that M. haemolytica A2 was a dominant serotype over others which account 50% in higher antibody titration ranging from 1:80 - 1:320 in outbreak samples. Camel respiratory diseases are still flaring up in various parts of the country and reports are coming year after year urging for an intervention measures. Further studies have been recommended on the epidemiology of the disease and the identification of the responsible pathogens and its serotypes to be involved for the development of vaccines. 

Key words: Ethiopia, camel respiratory diseases, Manhaemiya hemolytica, parainfulenza-3, serotyping.