Corpuscular oxidation in camels naturally infected with Dipetalonema evansi

ipetalonema evansi ( D. evansi ) is an important filarial nematode especially in camels and represents a significant health problem. This study aimed to determine the effect of natural infection with D. evansi on the oxidative status in plasma and erythrocytes of camels ( Camelus dromedarius ). In this study, 22 female dromedaries were classi-fied according to blood parasitological examinations into infected group (n = 10) and healthy control one (n = 12). Compared to values of the control group, a significant reduction in red blood cell count ( P < 0.05), hemoglobin concentration ( P < 0.01) and packed cell volume ( P < 0.01) was noticed in the infected camels. Plasma total oxidant status (TOS) was significantly increased ( P < 0.05) in the infected camel group compared to the control one. Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was significantly decreased ( P < 0.05) whereas the erythrocytic activity of the antioxidant superoxide dismutase and erythrocytic lipid peroxidation as denoted by malondialdehyde concentration were increased ( P < 0.05) in the infected group when compared to the corresponding control values. In conclusion, erythrocyte of camels infected by D. evansi is a subject of peroxidation,