Abstract

M. S. Abubakar*, M. Y. Fatihu, N. D. G. Ibrahim, S. B. Oladele and M. B. Abubakar

Respiratory disease is an emerging problem in camels, although information of the normal bacterial flora and bacterial agents implicated in pneumonia is rare in Nigeria. Five hundred lung samples were collected at random from two randomly selected camel slaughter house in Nigeria. Swabs samples were cultured and identified. Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida were recovered from pulmonary lesions, however Staphylococcus aureus and other Staphylococcus spp. were the most commonly isolated. Others agents isolated includes: Corynebacterium spp., Streptococcus spp., Klebsiella pneumonia, Micrococcus spp., Bacillus spp. and Proteus spp. It was concluded that, camels harbour in their lower respiratory tract potentially pathogenic agents, that may pose threat to other camels, domestic animals and/or livestock or even human populations. Therefore we suggest transboundary movements of animals be instituted and the camel herd health programme in Nigeria be maintained.