A Regional Study on Dermatophytes Infection in Arabian Dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedaries) in Al-Hassa Governorate in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

Aims: To detect and isolate the dermatophyte species that affect Arabian Dromedary Camels in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and to study its zoonotic potential.

Methods: A herd of thirty camels, including ten animals with ringworm, were investigated and were divided into 4 groups based on their age and clinical signs. Faecal samples were collected from all of the animals for the parasitological examination, while skin samples were collected from the affected animals for the mycological examination. Animals were treated by different lines of treatment to determine the most reliable and cost effective method.

Results: Results revealed that the clinical cases were affected by T. verrucosum. Some factors such as intestinal nematode infestation, managemental and environmental factors served as underlying causes for ringworm. The disease prevalence is higher in young animals that are less than 3 years old. Animal owners can get infected through direct contact with infected animals or through fomites contamination.

Conclusions: This study is considered as the first published study to detect and isolate T. verrucosum in Arabian Dromedary Camels in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and thus it could be considered as a database for dermatophytosis detection. Treatment lines and the preventive measures should be taken under consideration when dealing with ringworm to avoid the spread of the disease and to achieve high recovery rate.