Protozoal parasites in tick species infesting camels in Sinai Peninsula

A faunistic survey of ticks infesting camels was carried out in 7 localities of Sinai; El-Arish, Beer El Abd, Nakhel, Ain Mousa, St. Catherine, Wadi Hadra, and Dahab. The protozoal organisms present in the gut and haemolymph of the collected tick species were investigated. Results revealed the presence of six species of tick infesting camels, Hyalomma dromedarii, H. impeltatum, H. an. excavatum, H. an. anatolicum, H. marginatum and H. schulzei. The first 3 species were most common, whereas the latter 3 species were found in certain limited localities. Babesia sp. and Theilera sp. were recorded in both tick guts and haemolymph in most species allover the studied areas. Trypanosoma sp. was recorded in the guts of ticks collected from Beer El Abd, Nakhel and Dahab. Anaplasma sp. was found in tick guts from Beer El Abd and Dahab, however the same organism was detected in the haemolymph of ticks collected in Nakhel and Dahab.