Pathological and bacteriological studies in uterus, cervix and vagina of the female camels (Camelus dromedarius) slaughtered at tamboul abattoir, Sudan

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the different pathological lesions of the uterus, cervix and vagina of 2158 female camels at different ages of Arabi breed slaughtered at Tamboul abattoir, Sudan. Gross lesions of affected organs were observed and recorded. Representative samples from the gross lesions were obtained, fixed in 10% neutral formal saline, processed, sectioned and stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H & E) for histopathological examinations. Tissue samples and swabs from these organs were taken for bacteriological examination. The results showed that 214 organs were affected representing 9.92% of the total she-camels investigated. The various pathological lesions and conditions as calculated from total affected organs included uterine haemorrhage (23.37%), uterine congestion (20.56%), uterine white purulent spots (16.82%), uterine thickening and corrugation (9.35%), pyometra (5.60%), vaginal prolapse (4.67%), uterine abscess (3.73%), vaginal necrosis (2.80%), cervical abscess (2.80%), uterine necrosis (2.80%), uterine prolapse (1.87%), vaginal abscess (1.87%), uterine diminution (0.94%), uterine oedema (0.94%), uterine fibrosis (0.94%) and cervical oedema (0.94%). Tissues for bacteriological examination were taken from 37 samples representing all the pathological lesions encountered in this study revealed 37 isolates. The isolates consisted of 32 Gram-positive isolates (86.49%) and 5 Gram-negative ones (13.51%). The percentage of isolates in order of frequency as calculated from the total isolates were; Staphylococcus spp. 22(59.45%), Streptococcus spp. 2 (5.41%), Bacillus spp. 6 (16.22%) and Corynebacterium spp. 2 (5.41%). The Gram-negative bacteria isolates were Escherichia coli 4 (10.81%) and Pseudomonas spp. 1 (2.70%). It should be stressed that Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas spp. were isolated for the first time from white purulent spots lesions in the uterus of dromedary camel.