Effect of season on the productivity of camels (Camelus dromedarius and the prevalence of their major parasites in eastern Ethiopia.

The productivity and the prevalence rates of the major parasites of camels (Camelus dromedarius) kept under traditional management conditions at Errer valley, Ethiopia were assessed for a year (October 1997-September 1998). The daily milk offtake was significantly higher (p < 0.05) during the wet season (3.12 +/- 0.03 L) than during the dry season (1.49 +/- 0.04 L). Likewise, significantly higher (p < 0.05) daily weight gains (50.68 +/- 0.54 g) were observed during the wet season than during dry season in immature camels aged 1-4 years. Trypanosoma evansi, Sarcoptes scabiei and strongyle parasites were present throughout the year, but their prevalence rates were higher during the rainy months than during the dry months. The minimum and maximum point prevalence rates for T. evansi were 5.4% and 20.6%, respectively. Similarly, the point prevalence rates for S. scabiei also varied from 4.7% during the dry season to 21.7% during the rainy months. The highest strongyle egg counts per gram of faeces and highest point prevalence rate (85.7%) were observed in October, a rainy month, whereas the lowest number of eggs per gram of faeces and the lowest point prevalence rate (61.5%) were recorded in April, a dry month.