Fungi that reproduce by asexual spore formation only are known as “Fungi Imperfecti” which include the vast majority of fungi animal pathogens. These include Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Trichophyton, Sporotrichum, Candida, Cladosporium, Coccidioides, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Histoplasma capsulatum, and Aspergillus fumigatus. Most of these fungi have been reported to cause various diseases in camelids. Fungi in the genera Trichophyton and Sporotrichum are the most prevalent fungi in camelids. Trichophyton verrcosum, T. mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis and M. gypseum have been isolated from camels in upper Egypt while T. dankaliense was isolated from cases of ringworm in camels and humans in the northern and Ogaden areas of Somalia. Ringworm due to T. schoenleinii has been recorded in camels from Iraq and India. Other Fungi also reported to infect camels include T. rubrum, Allescheria boydii and Mycelia sterial.

Direct contact ith other infected animals or the use of contaminated utensils is the common method of spread. Introduction of new camels with subclinical infection is usually the source of infection to susceptible herds. Other rarely reported fungal diseases of camelids include candidiasis caused by Candida albicans, cryptococcosis due to Cryptococcus neoformans, aspergillosis due to Aspergillus fumigatus, Histoplasma capsulatum var farciminosum, Sporotrichum schenckii, Rhizopus spp, and Conidiobolus coronatus infection.

Mycotoxicoses is a potential hazard of fungal toxins in foodstuffs. Ryegrass staggers as a clinical disease has been diagnosed in cattle, sheep, horses, alpacas and llamas following the ingestion of mycotoxins produced by the endophyte fungus Acremonium lolii. Phalaris poisoning caused by Phalaris aquatica grass has been diagnosed in an alpaca in Australia in regions where sheep losses also occur from poisoning. Mycotoxicosis from the fungus Epchloe typhina has been reported in llamas following grazing tall fescue grass. Some strains of Aspergillus flavus produce aflatoxins, which are toxic to the liver.

Diagnosis of fungal diseases can be achieved by direct examination of clinical materials, isolation on specific media, various serological tests, histopathological examination of tissue biopsy specimens, experimental animal inoculation transmission, and intradermal allergic tests.

Antifungal drug therapy has been used to treat camels suffering from fungal infections. Various drugs are commercially available in the markets. These include amphotericin B, nystatin, grisseofulvin, imidazoles, ketoconazole, clothimazole, fluconazole, itiaconazaole, and sodium iodide. Prevention and control of fungal diseases depends upon elimination of the infection by isolation of infected animals, and preventing spread by hygienic precautions and the use of vaccines.