Data on camel calf iseases in Mauritania

Abstract

Camel calf diseases diagnosed in Mauritania were mainly due to viruses, bacteria and parasites. Camel pox is a common viral disease, either localized or generalized. It affected camel calves 0-2 years old with morbidity and mortality rates sometimes reaching 50 and 10%, respectively. Among the breeders, 33 and 57% reported outbreaks occurring yearly and every other year, respectively, often at the end of the rainy season until the beginning of the dry cool season. The main bacterial diseases were suppurative lymphadenitis, pyodermatitis (staphylococcal dermatitis), diarrheas and bronchopneumonia. Depending on the infection, several bacterial species were isolated. The main parasitic diseases were mange, mycoses and tick infestation. The various diseases resulted in unthriftiness, poor growth performance and sometimes death of the camel calf. Proposals to reduce these constraints are discussed.