This study was designed to determine antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from the nasal cavity of healthy camels. A total of 255 nasal samples (swabs) were collected in Isiolo, Samburu, and Nakuru counties, Kenya, from which 404 bacterial isolates belonging to various genera and species were recovered. The bacterial isolates included Bacillus (39.60%), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (29.95%), Streptococcus species other than Streptococcus agalactiae (25.74%), coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (3.96%), and Streptococcus agalactiae (0.74%). Isolates were most susceptible to Gentamicin (95.8%), followed by Tetracycline (90.5%), Kanamycin and Chloramphenicol (each at 85.3%), Sulphamethoxazole (84.2%), Co-trimoxazole (82.1%), Ampicillin (78.9%), and finally Streptomycin (76.8%). This translated to low resistance levels. Multidrug resistance was also reported in 30.5% of the isolates tested. Even though the antibiotic resistance demonstrated in this study is low, the observation is significant, since the few resistant normal flora could be harboring resistance genes which can be transferred to pathogenic bacteria within the animal, to other animals' bacteria and, most seriously, to human pathogens.

No abstract

Natural dermatophilosis (caused by Dermatophilus congolensis Van Saceghem, 1915) has only recently been described in camels (Camelus dromedarius). Further work has shown that the disease is actually widespread. At the Ol Maisor farm where it was first diagnosed (in the Laikipia district of northern Kenya), detailed investigations have revealed that thirty camels (ten calves and twenty adult animals) were infected. The signs varied from mild to more than 50% skin involvement. Patches of wool on the rump were easily detachable with many hard, white crusts. Similarly, another twenty camels from a totally different area of northern Kenya (Samburu district) were found to be infected with D. congolensis. Bacterial isolation was used to confirm the diagnosis. At Ol Maisor farm, twenty sheep were also found to have severe dermatophilosis. There were scabs and many areas of wool shedding. The shed wool had crusts similar to those observed on camels. Experimental infection with D. congolensis isolated from camels was conducted, by means of scarification, on the skin of two goats. The same experimental infection was possible in two calves, taking two weeks to become established. After thirty days there were disseminated foci of infection on the heads of the calves, especially around the eyes. Although these findings cannot show the actual source of D. congolensis, it is possible that the same organism causes dermatophilosis in the different animals.

Gitao, C G Date: 1994 Mortality among camel calves (Camelus dromedarius) is one of the most serious problems faced by camel herdsmen and, although there are several reasons for this mortality, diseases play a major role. In an investigation of outbreaks of contagious ecthyma in camels in the Turkana district of Kenya, four outbreaks were detected involving only camel calves. The principal lesions were distinct or largely coalesced pustules on the mouth, nose and muzzle. Direct electron microscopy of infected scabs was used to confirm the presence of the virus. Secondary infection of the pustules was common in affected calves. Morbidity in affected herds was 100%, with no adult involvement. Affected calves were unable to suckle properly. In all outbreaks, there was a concurrent outbreak of contagious pustular dermatitis in goat kids in the same household. Contagious ecthyma is an important disease in camels, contributing to calf debility and eventually to high calf mortality.

Although both Dermatophilus congolensis and Microsporum gypseum infections have been reported separately in camels, mixed infection involving both agents has not been reported to date. The authors describe a mixed infection of D. congolensis and M. gypseum in camels reared on a dairy farm in Saudi Arabia. A total of 131 out of 559 camels (23.4%) were affected. Forty-eight camels less than one year of age had discrete, circumscribed, crusty, hairless lesions, found in particular on the neck and forelegs. Eighty-three camels of varying ages had extensive hair matting with crusty, hairless lesions, especially on the flanks. Camel calves and young camels demonstrated a relatively greater amount of skin lesions. D. congolensis and M. gypseum were diagnosed by direct microscopy, isolation and histopathology.