Abdulsalam Bakhsh
King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
Title: An overview of camels’ diseases in Saudi Arabia with special reference to MERS- Co V
Biography
Biography: Abdulsalam Bakhsh
Abstract
There are many diseases of camels in Saudi Arabia which are estimated to be 810 000. Eastern province is the largest one of area composing one third of camels in the country. The camels in Veterinary Teaching Hospital of KFU those treated for non-infectious diseases were (763) and infectious diseases (539). In infectious diseases, as following: respiratory 101, enteritis 86, urinary 19, nervous 31, mouth 42, eyes 111 and skin 149 camels were treated. The camel’s diseases have been diagnosed by bacteriological, serological, molecular, histopathological and necropsy methods by different laboratories. Mostly reasons for diseases and death have been attributed to climatic changes, different breeding/grazing methods and self-improper measurements. Availability of vaccination program and traditional treatments are carried out. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has been confirmed in Saudi Arabia with 977 cases and odd case from time to time. Transmission of MERS-CoV has been attributed for different routes behind incontinous occurrence in Saudi Araba (Hemida et al, 2015). Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012 is a viral respiratory illness that is new to humans caused by MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Coronaviruses are common viruses that most people get some time in their life. MERS-CoV likely came from an animal source in the Arabian Peninsula. Researchers have found MERS-CoV in camels from several countries. Studies continue to provide evidence that camel infections may play a role in human infection with MERS-CoV. Molecular tests are used to diagnose active infection (presence of MERS-CoV) in people who are thought to be infected with MERS-CoV based on their clinical symptoms and having links to places where MERS has been reported. Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assays are molecular tests that can be used to detect viral RNA in clinical samples. Saudi Arabia has warned its citizens to wear masks and gloves when dealing with camels as health experts said the animal was the likely source of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus. Many camels were destroyed in endemic areas.