Molecular and Bacteriological Diagnosis of Mycoplasma Species Infection in Camels at Taif Governorate, Saudi Arabia

Aims: We designed this work to confirm if the PCR technique is more rapid and specific than traditional diagnostic method by culture. Study Design: In vitro experimental and molecular study. Place and Duration of Study: Genetic engineering and biotechnology unit, Taif University, Saudi Arabia from October, 2016 to September, 2017. Methodology: Ninety three nasal and tracheal swabs and lung samples were collected from camel in Taif slaughterhouse, Saudi Arabia. All samples were tested by culture and PCR method using universal primer of 16S rRNA gene. Results: There was no positive result obtained by culture method, but 30 (32.2%) of nasal swabs were positive using PCR method. Moreover, we used species-specific primers for Mycoplasma arginine, M. bovis and M. mycoides subspecies mycoides to identify the isolates at species level, but no positive results obtained with specific primers. These positive samples could be other Mycoplasma species. Conclusion: These results indicate that PCR technique is a specific molecular detection technique for Mycoplasma identification, and more sensitive test. These techniques are simple and fast methods to detect and isolate infected animals.

A novel path of communication from kidney to the adrenal gland in bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) / Una nueva vía de comunicación del riñón a la glándula suprarrenal en el camello bactriano (Camelus bactrianus)

The adrenal gland is an important endocrine organ in vertebratesthat produces a wide variety of hormones. The anatomical results showed that the adrenal gland in Bactrian camel had a typical blood supply and innervation. Surprisingly, we found that there was a novel connection mainly consisted of fibrous tissue, blood vessels and nerve bundles between the adrenal gland and the kidney in Bactrian camel, and we named it fibrous tissue-blood vessels-nerve bundles (FBN bundle). To the best of our knowledge, this FBN bundle was the first reported in Bactrian camel, and not yet observed in other animals. While, its functions and mechanisms should be studied further. We speculated that a direct function of this novel path might be to strengthen the communication of the adrenal gland and the kidney. So this communicationpath might have importantadaptive significance for the Bactrian camel living in arid and semi-arid ecological zones.

La glándula suprarrenal es un órgano endocrino importante en los vertebrados, que produce una amplia variedad de hormonas. Los resultados anatómicos mostraron que la glándula suprarrenal en el Camello bactriano tiene un patrón de suministro sanguíneo e inervación típico. Excepcionalmente, se encontró una conexión infrecuente que consistió principalmente en tejido fibroso, vasos sanguíneos y haces nerviosos entre la glándula suprarrenal y el riñón del Camello bactriano, denominándose haz de tejido fibroso-vasos sanguíneos-nervio (Haz FSN). Este paquete de haces de nervios es el primero reportado en el Camello bactriano, y aún no se observa en otros animales, en consecuencia sus funciones y mecanismos deben ser estudiados. Creemos que podría existir una función directa de esta nueva vía para mejorar la comunicación de la glándula suprarrenal y el riñón. Así, esta vía de comunicación podría tener un importante significado adaptativo para el Camello bactriano, quien vive en zonas ecológicas áridas y semiáridas.

Blocking of Histamine Release and IgE Binding to FcepsilonRI on Human Basophils by Antibodies Produced in Camels

PURPOSE: The production of camel heavy-chain antihuman IgE (huIgE) that has the potential to block IgE-FcepsilonRI interaction and histamine release by basophils. METHODS: Camels were immunized with a synthetic loop peptide (SLP) designed in a multiple antigen peptide system (MAPS) forming SLP-MAPS immunogen. Camel polyclonal antibodies (PCAs) were produced, purified, characterized using Protein A & G, ELISA, and SDS-PAGE, and tested for their potency to block passive sensitization and histamine release of human basophils using flow cytometry (FCM) and ELISA, respectively. RESULTS: FCM data indicated that camel conventional (IgG1) and heavy chain antibodies (HCAbs; IgG2, and IgG3) had blocking activities of 43.9%, 72%, and 96.6%, respectively. Moreover, both IgG2 and IgG3 achieved remarkable inhibition rates of 93.98% and 97.05% in histamine release, respectively, whereas the IgG1inhibiting activity was 60.05%. CONCLUSIONS: Camel PCAs produced against SLP-MAPS were capable of blocking the IgE-receptor interaction and the release of histamine by basophils with superiority to HCAbs. These findings may pave the way toward the possible use of camel anti-huIgE HCAbs as blocking antibodies in the treatment of IgE-mediated allergy and asthma.

Scrotal Circumference and Testicular Morphometric Characteristics of the Camel (Camelus Dromedarius) in the Semi-Arid Environment of Northern Nigeria / Circunferencia Escrotal y Características Testiculares Morfométricas del Camello (Camelus Dromedarius) en el Ambiente Semiárido del Norte de Nigeria

Reproductive tract of 12 camels (Camelus dromedarius) were used to evaluate testicular morphometry. The testicular morphometric characteristics measured were scrotal circumference (in situ), paired testis weight, epididymal weight and mean epididymal length, testis volume, and testis density. There were no significant difference (p >0.05) between the left and right organs, but there were numerical differences between all the parameters. A highly significant positive correlations (p <0.05, p <0.01, p <0.001) exist between the scrotal circumference, testicular and epididymal morphometry, except for testis density which is non- significant (p >0.05). It was concluded that testicular morphometry would provide reliable information in predicting sperm production of camels in the semi arid environment.

El tracto reproductivo de 12 camellos (Camelus dromedarius) fue utilizado para evaluar la morfometría testicular. Las características morfométricas testiculares medidas fueron la circunferencia escrotal (in situ), peso testicular pareado, peso epididimario y longitud media del epidídimo, volumen y densidad testicular. No hubo diferencias significativas (p> 0,05) entre los órganos del lado izquierdo y derecho, aunque se observaron diferencias numéricas entre todos los parámetros. Correlaciones positivas altamente significativas (p <0,05, p <0,01, y p <0,001) existen entre la circunferencia escrotal, morfometría testicular y del epidídimo, a excepción de la densidad testicular que no fue significativa (p> 0,05). Se concluyó que la morfometría testicular podría proporcionar información fiable para predecir la producción espermática de camellos en el ambiente semiárido.