Compartment 1 acidosis associated with hemorrhagic diathesis causing mortalities among racing camels in Oman.

Camels are adapted to digestion of dry rough forages for their nutrition, and sudden change to highly digestible feed during the racing season causes digestive disorders. The current study investigated the cause of death among racing dromedary camels within 3-7 days following a sudden onset of fever ≈ 41 °C, colic with tarry feces, and enlarged superficial lymph nodes. Marked leukopenia, low RBC count and thrombocytopenia, deranged liver and renal function tests, and prolonged coagulation profiles were reported. Compartment 1 fluid revealed a pH of 4.3-5.2 with absence or few ciliated protozoa and Gram-positive microbial flora. Widespread petechial to ecchymotic hemorrhages were observed in various organs including the gastrointestinal tract (compartment 3 and colon), lungs, and heart. Fibrin thrombi in arterioles, capillaries, venules, and medium-sized veins were observed especially in the pulmonary interstitium, submucosa of the large intestine (ascending colon), deep dermis, and renal cortex. Furthermore, widespread hemorrhages and necrosis were constant histopathological lesions in parenchymatous organs. Based on clinical signs, hematology, blood biochemistry, and gross and microscopical findings, the cases were diagnosed as compartment 1 acidosis associated with hemorrhagic diathesis and endotoxicosis. Finally, compartment 1 acidosis associated with hemorrhagic diathesis is a serious fatal disease on the Arabian Peninsula in racing dromedaries causing multi-organ dysfunction and coagulopathy and disseminated hemorrhages.

Animal rabies situation in Sultanate of Oman (2017-2019).

Successful preventive and control measures of zoonotic diseases require updated epidemiological data. Sylvatic rabies is endemic in Oman since 1990. Studying of the prevalence of animal rabies in Oman (2017-2019) was the goal of the current study besides the clinical-histopathological investigations of rabies in different animal species. A total of 117 whole brains of different animal species from different regions of Oman were examined by fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and histopathology for rabies during 2017-2019. Sixty-four samples (54.7%) were positive for rabies by FAT. The most affected species were goat (53.1%) followed by camel (18.8%), which pose a great risk to farmers and veterinarians. Positive fox cases were (10.9%). Most confirmed cases of animal rabies were submitted from Northern regions of Oman. Rabies was reported recently in Al Wusta among wild ruminants, Central Oman. The seasonal cycle of animal rabies in Oman was year-round with the peak from December to April. The clinical signs and neuropathological findings were nearly similar in different animal species. Histopathology-positive cases had Negri bodies in pyramidal and purkinje neurons, non-suppurative encephalitis features, and neuronal degeneration and necrosis. The sensitivity and specificity of histopathological diagnosis of rabies in different animals were 76.47% and 100.00%, respectively. Finally, sylvatic rabies remains a major challenge to the public and animal health in Oman. Although of the value of histopathological diagnosis of rabies if no other technique is available, other complementary tests must be employed to confirm negative results.

Natural Ehrlichia ruminantium infection in two captive Arabian tahrs (Arabitragus jayakari) in Oman.

This study was investigated the cause of death of two captive adult Arabian tahrs (Arabitragus jayakari) died within 2-3 days after onset of fever and neurologic signs in a private farm in northern Batinah Region of Oman. Blood counting revealed leukocytosis attributed to neutrophilia and serum chemistry showed hypoproteinemia, increased creatine kinase and BUN. Upon autopsy, the animals exhibited mild ascites and hydrothorax, prominent hydropericardium, with large pale-yellow clear fluid coagulum, prominent epicardial petechiation, as well as severe pulmonary edema associated with frothy fluid in airways. Brain edema with congestion of meningeal and parenchymal vessels was prominent. Histopathology revealed severe congestion and edema of both lung and brain as well as cardiac myopathy. Ehrlichia ruminantium colonies (the causative organism of cowdriosis; OIE-listed disease) were demonstrated in the capillary endothelium of fresh brain squash and lung macrophages. This is the first report of natural E. ruminantium infection in Arabian tahr, the highly endangered species, based on typical clinical signs of acute cowdriosis and demonstration of E. ruminantium colonies in the brain capillary endothelial cells.