Prevalence and Causal Factors Analysis Associated with Ringworm Infection among One-humped Camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Tamboul, Sudan

Abstract

Ringworm is a zoonotic skin disease and one of the most frequently occurring in human and his domesticated animals. It is estimated that 20% of the world population is affected with dermatophytosis. Cameline dermatophytosis has a great public health and economic impact that leads to the emaciation, low milk and meat production, and poor hide quality. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of dermatophytosis among One-hump camels raised in Albutana plain. 800 camels of different age, sex, breed and location in different seasons that provided from all over Sudan to Tamboul livestock market were recruited in the study. Skin scrapings were collected from clinically suspected camels and examined using Potassium hydroxide (KOH) technique to determine arthrospores in positive cases. 275 (34.4%) cases were infected with ringworm. The clinical feature of infected animals was presented by circular small disc-shaped and/or irregular alopecia with white, grey or brown crusts distributed on various part of the body, and sometimes granulomatous lesions were also observed. Microscopic examination of positive slides revealed significance variation (p ≤ 0.05) in types of arthrospores detected among infected camels. The distribution of arthrospores were in the following order; ectothrix (31%), ecto-endothrix (16%), endothrix (14.3%), ectothrix and Favic hyphae (12.3%), ectothrix, endothrix and favic hyphae co-existence (7%), endothrix and favic hyphae (6%) and favic hyphae (5%). Analysis of disease determinants showed significant variation of season on dermatophytosis prevalence (p = 0.00), the higher incidence was recorded in winter (33%) followed by autumn (31.7%) and summer (27%). Other factors like age, sex and location showed no significance effect on dermatophytosis infection. Direct examination based on KOH is rapid and reliable technique for diagnosis of ringworm infection, it could be recommended as a field test that leads to prevention and elimination of zoonotic dermatophytes.