Aerobic bacteriological studies on the respiratory tracts of apparently healthy and pneumonic camels (Camelus dromedaries) in selected districts of Afar Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to isolate and identify bacterial species from the respiratory tract of apparently healthy and pneumonic camels in Asayita and Dubti woredas in the Afar Region, Ethiopia. From a total of 74 lung tissue and 74 tracheal swab samples Staphylococcus aureus, 16.3%, Streptococcus equi subsp. equi, 13.0%, and Pasteurella multocida, 10.9%, were dominant isolates from pneumonic lungs; Escherichia coli, 12.7%, Proteus species, 10.9%, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, 9.1%, were the majority in the normal lungs. The majority of the isolates colonized both anatomical sites investigated. There was a statistically significant association between the health status of the camels as well as the anatomical site studied with the isolation rates of the major respiratory pathogens (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the isolates were susceptible to norfloxacin, streptomycin, and gentamicin but resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline on in vitro test. Further studies on the pathogenicity of the major isolates are recommended.

First Report of Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Virulence Gene Characterization Associated with Staphylococcus aureus Carriage in Healthy Camels from Tunisia

“…However, lower respiratory carriage rates of Staphylococcus spp. in healthy camels have been reported in previous studies carried out in Africa and the Middle East, including Kenya, Iran, Sudan and Ethiopia (34%, 29%, 30.4% and 12%, respectively) [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. In Sudan and Ethiopia, camels with pneumonic lesions were also positive for Staphylococcus spp.…”

“…In Sudan and Ethiopia, camels with pneumonic lesions were also positive for Staphylococcus spp. (30.4% and 26.5%, respectively) [ 18 , 21 ]. Very few studies have focused on the carriage of Staphylococcus spp.…”

“…All the currently available data concur that S. aureus resides as a normal inhabitant of the upper respiratory tract, and several studies show that the nares are the most consistent area from which this organism can be isolated. The carriage of S. aureus in the nasal cavities appears to play a key role in the epidemiology and pathogenesis of pulmonary infection, very likely causing secondary pneumonia in immunocompromised animals [ 21 , 39 ].…”

Molecular detection of Mycoplasma spp. from camel’s milk

“…Camel's milk considers an exceptional nutritional food because of its high nutritional and therapeutic uses (9)(10)(11)(12)(13). Although camels consider more resistant to many diseases that occur in other animals (14), many diseases can affect camels and lead to crucial economic loss (15). In many countries, including Iraq, camel's milk production was affected by mammary gland infection, also known as mastitis (16).…”

Immune cell composition of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in healthy and respiratory diseased dromedary camels

“…Respiratory diseases are among the most common and expensive to treat diseases in camels with a high economic impact on camel health, welfare, and production [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Causative agents of camel respiratory infectious diseases mainly include viral and bacterial pathogens [8].…”