Abortion Related to Toxoplasma gondii Infection in a Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus) in Greece: A Case Report

Anastasia Th.  Komnenou; Nektarios D.  Giadinis; Maria  Kritsepi-Konstantinou; Angelos-Lauris  Thomas; Stefania  Danika; Konstantinos  Terpsidis; Evanthia  Petridou; Elias  Papadopoulos

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v17i1.9033

Anastasia Th. Komnenou Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessalo-niki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Nektarios D. Giadinis Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessalo-niki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Maria Kritsepi-Konstantinou Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessalo-niki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Angelos-Lauris Thomas Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessalo-niki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Stefania Danika Private Veterinarian, Trikala, Greece
Konstantinos Terpsidis Greek Army, Thessaloniki, Greece
Evanthia Petridou Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessalo-niki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Elias Papadopoulos Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessalo-niki, Thessaloniki, Greece

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v17i1.9033

Keywords: Camel; Toxoplasmosis; Abortion; Sulfadimidine; Greece

Abstract

A female, 5 yr old Bactrian camel was presented to the Exotic and Wildlife Medicine Unit, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece, with severe dehydration, depression, anorexia, mild dyspnea and diarrhea. Supportive treatment immediately initiated with fluids, electrolytes and broad-spectrum antibiotics. The general condition of the animal was stable for the next 3 days, but at 4^th day became worse, since the camel remained in sternal recumbency, denied to drink water and abortion of a mummified fetus was noticed. The aborted fetus and fetal membranes were submitted for laboratory examinations (bacterial cultures, MZN, cytology, PCR) that revealed Toxoplasma gondii infection. Treatment with sulfadimidine improved the situation of the animal that returned to its farm 1 week later. This seems to be the first reported case in the literature of confirmed toxoplasmic abortion in camels.