Descriptive analysis of the genital tract of the dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) collected at a slaughterhouse

Abstract

The dromedary is one of the few domestic animal species that multiply at a very slow rate. Several factors among others; very long gestation, simple and induced ovulation, contribute to the reduction of the reproductive efficiency of the camel. To help understand camel reproduction in Niger, this study aims to morphologically characterize the reproductive system of dromedary females slaughtered at the slaughterhouse. For this, a total of 132 genital tracts and 264 ovaries belonging to dromedaries were collected and categorized at the slaughterhouse between August and October 2019. Afterwards, these organs were weighed and measured. The average values ​​of the weight of the genital tract were estimated at 211.57±90.68 g; 596.50±38.15 g and 2357.38±296.10 g, respectively for young, not pregnant adult and pregnant adult females. However, the mean values ​​of the length of the right and left uterine horn were 3.95±0.003 cm vs 5.13±0.23 cm; 5.61±0.03 cm vs 8.78±0.24 cm and 18.40±5.86 cm vs 27.90±2.64 cm, respectively for the young, not pregnant adult and pregnant dromedary. The mean weight values ​​of the right and left ovaries were 1.96±0.4 g vs 2.67±0.43 g; 4.37±0.38 g vs 4.79±0.38 g and 6.56±0.67 g vs 5.46±0.51 g, respectively for the young, not pregnant adult and pregnant dromedary. For the average number of follicles per ovary, it was found 17.77±1.75 for the right side against 20.07±1.92 for the left side in young female while it was 27.80±1, 73 vs 28.44±1.71 for the not pregnant adult female and 29.61±2.97vs 29.67±2.95 for the pregnant female. On the other hand, the mean number of corpora lutea per ovary was 0.69±0.16 vs 0.56±0.15; 2.45±0.22 vs 2.56±0.21 and 2.86±0.52 vs 1.94±0.30, respectively for the right and left ovaries of the young, not pregnant adult and pregnant dromedary female. Statically, all these differences are significant (p˂0.05) for the factors considered, particularly the reproductive status of the female and the side of the ovary. The results obtained confirm that the anatomical and structural characteristics of the genital tract of the female dromedary depend on the reproductive status of the animal and the ovary side.