Recurrent colic in a 1‐year‐old dromedary camel

Abstract

A 1‐year‐old male castrated dromedary camel presented with a 3‐week history of intermittent colic characterized by diarrhoea, inappetence and lethargy. The patient was originally diagnosed with intestinal parasites (Trichuris spp.) 2 weeks prior, for which he was dewormed and released from the hospital. However, the patient's clinical signs did not improve, so further workup was deemed necessary. Based on severe weight loss and hypoalbunaemia, with no further detection of common intestinal parasites, a suspicion of proliferative enteritis led to additional diagnostics. A faecal sample submitted for Lawsonia intracelluris PCR tested positive for the bacterium. The patient received four treatments of oxytetracycline, and clinical signs significantly improved. Another PCR was performed 4 weeks after treatment and was negative for L. intracellularis. While other causes of this camel's clinical signs are possible, this case suggests L. intracellularis may have contributed to signs of recurrent colic in a dromedary camel.