Study Iron Homeostasis of Infected and Non-Infected Iraqi Camels with Trypanosomiasis

Trypanosomiasis is one of the common parasitic diseases, which infects the dromedary camels and decreases the numbers of these animals in Iraq. To get the best knowledge of the changes of iron status in camels infected with trypanosomiasis, and an attempt to take advantage of these variables as markers for infection, this study was designed. In the current study, blood samples were collected from 155 dromedary camels (total samples 155), where 33 (21.29%) were infected, according to the status of infection with Trypanosoma evansi that depends on blood smear examination as a golden test. Results denote significant differences in infection ratio by sex and age, from total of 132 male tested, 29 (21.96%) infected, distributed into 12 (41.37%) of age ≤ 2 years and 17 (58.62%) of age ≥ 2 years. Of the 23 females tested, 4 (17.39%) animals were infected at age ≤ 2 years. Furthermore, the results of this study demonstrated a significant (P˂0.05) decrease in total serum iron, transferrin saturation, ferritin, whereas there was an increase in total iron-binding capacity and unsaturated iron-binding capacity in the infected male and female camels of different ages. Analyzed data of iron status parameters denoted that the cutoff point test between sensitivity (97) and specificity (100) for serum iron is ≤ 67.26, for transferrin saturation is ≤17.23 between the sensitivity and specificity (100) and (≥378.66), for total iron-binding capacity between the sensitivity and specificity (93.9 and 96.7) respectively. Also, the cutoff point test between the sensitivity (100) and specificity (96.7) for unsaturated iron-binding capacity is (≥301.27) and ferritin concentration has a cutoff point is (≤ 249.88) for the sensitivity (100) and specificity (99.2). It could be concluded from what was stated in the results of the current study, that the measurement of the concentration of serum ferritin could be considered as a good (reliable) marker for the Trypanosoma. evansi infection.