Background

Camel filariasis induced variable clinical syndromes characterized by fever, lethargy, localized dermal lesions, loss of condition, and testicular and scrotal swelling. The objective of the present work focused on clarifying the diagnostic importance of clinical findings, serum testosterone, and semen analysis as well as blood smear and testicular histopathology as a differential tool between only balanoposthitis without filariasis male camels group (OnlyBp^gr) and balanoposthitis-filariasis infected male camels group (BpFl^gr). The study also monitored the associations between the severity of ticks’ infestations in investigated male camels and the occurrence of balanoposthitis only or balanoposthitis with filariasis.

Results and conclusions

The study reported significant correlation between serum testosterone, serum cortisol, and sperm vitality and abnormalities percentages. The study included male camels (n = 250) classified into three groups: healthy control group (Cont^gr; n = 30), OnlyBp^gr (n = 210), and BpFl^gr (n = 10). These male camels were clinically and laboratory examined, and skin scraping tests and testicular histopathology were conducted. The study confirmed the association of the changes in clinical findings, whole blood picture, serum testosterone, serum cortisol, and semen analysis, with OnlyBp^gr and BpFl^gr. These changes were more prominent in BpFl^gr than in OnlyBp^gr. Skin scraping test results revealed a higher severity of live ticks’ infestation in BpFl^gr than in OnlyBp^gr because, unlike OnlyBp^gr, all camels in BpFl^gr (n = 10) were suffering from live ticks’ infestation. It also concluded the higher efficacy of histopathology of testicular tissues in male camels as a diagnostic tool for adult filaria in balanoposthitis-affected male camels than blood smear because all cases of camel filariasis in the current work were negative for microfilaria on microscopic examination of diurnal blood smear as well as testicular histopathology revealed detection of adult filaria in all camel filariasis associated with balanoposthitis. Strong correlation relationships were demonstrated between serum testosterone, serum cortisol, and semen analysis results. Positive correlations were reported between serum testosterone levels and sperm vitality percentages. However, negative correlations were stated between serum testosterone and each of serum cortisol and sperm abnormalities either in Cont^gr, OnlyBp^gr, or BpFl^gr.

Many domestic and wild animals are susceptible to malignant catarrhal fever (MCF), which is a lymphoproliferative, multisystemic, and fatal disease. The present study was conducted on 47 cattle. The clinical examination findings revealed a persistent high fever, enlargement of superficial lymph nodes, corneal opacity, respiratory symptoms, oral lesions, and ulcerative skin lesions. Buffy coat samples were collected for laboratory analysis. Semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay has been used. Ovine herpesvirus-2 (OvHV-2) Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was detected in the buffy coat of 21 cattle. DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of OvHV-2 were performed in our study. The phylogenetic analysis of the PCR product of the Egyptian strain of OvHV-2 (Assiut) showed close similarity with OvHV-2 strains of different governorates (Beni-suef, Giza and Fayoum) of Egypt, India, Turkey, Iraq, Italy, Brazil and United Kingdom. There was no significant variation (P<0.05) between the percentages of MCF infection and the sex, age, and breed (native and mixed breed) of molecularly tested cattle. According to the climatologic conditions of Assiut governorate, there is no discernible difference (P<0.05) between the MCF infection rate and the cold and hot months. To date, this is the first report of OvHV-2 in Assiut Governorate, so it is advisable to separate susceptible cattle from sheep, especially during lambing, and to euthanize any animals that are clinically infected with MCF.