Evaluation of the Breeding Soundness of Male Camels (Camelus dromedarius) via Clinical Examination, Semen Analysis, Ultrasonography and Testicular Biopsy: A Summary of 80 Clinical Cases

Abstract

Male camel infertility is a heterogeneous disorder. A variety of factors may adversely affect sperm production and function and impair fertility. This study was designed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography and testicular biopsy in the evaluation of the breeding soundness of male dromedaries compared with results obtained by clinical examination and semen analysis. Eighty-four male dromedary camels (5-15 years old) were used in this study during the rutting season (November-May). Four sexually mature male camels were used as controls. These animals were apparently healthy and had histories of normal fertility. Eighty infertile male camels were subjected to an algorithmic approach based on information collected during careful examinations of the camels' breeding histories, clinical examinations, testicular evaluations, testicular ultrasonographies, the results of the semen analyses and testicular biopsies to diagnose the camels' infertilities. The differences in the semen parameters between the control and infertile male camels were highly significant (p < 0.01). Regarding the diagnoses of male camel infertility, the results of testicular ultrasonographies and biopsies were compared with those from the semen analyses, and the accuracies of these tests were 92.5% and 90%, respectively. Additionally, the results of the testicular ultrasonographies were matched with those of the testicular biopsies of the infertile animals, and this comparison resulted in 85% accuracy. Testicular biopsy is a promising method that, along with a carefully performed history, clinical examination, an appropriate testicular ultrasonography procedure and semen analysis, can afford veterinarians the opportunity for more precise diagnosis and treatment of many dromedary infertility disorders.

The relationship between seminal plasma and serum trace elements and semen parameters of dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius)

“…In the current study, there were differences in semen volume (high in the infertile camels) and pH (high in the infertile camels), and sperm motility (high in the fertile camels), concentration (high in the fertile camels) and abnormalities (high in the infertile camels) between the fertile and infertile camels. Similar data were reported previously in dromedary camels (Mostafa, Abd El‐Salaam, Elbadry, & Anour, ; Waheed et al, ). In Saudi Arabia, low sperm concentration in infertile males was associated mainly with testicular degeneration and less frequently with testicular hypoplasia and changes in testes direction from the normal oblique to tilted or horizontal directions (Hemeida, Ismail, & El‐Wishy, ; Waheed et al, ).…”

“…Similar data were reported previously in dromedary camels (Mostafa, Abd El‐Salaam, Elbadry, & Anour, ; Waheed et al, ). In Saudi Arabia, low sperm concentration in infertile males was associated mainly with testicular degeneration and less frequently with testicular hypoplasia and changes in testes direction from the normal oblique to tilted or horizontal directions (Hemeida, Ismail, & El‐Wishy, ; Waheed et al, ). The difference in semen parameters (decreased motility and concentration, and increased abnormalities) was associated with an increase in Fe, Zn and Cu levels in the seminal plasma, and Fe and Zn levels in the serum, of infertile camels.…”

“…A total of 14 fertile dromedary camels (controls-males naturally mated with females that resulted in a successful pregnancy) aged between 5 and 13 years from the Camel Research Centre, King Faisal University and 41 infertile dromedaries (history of inability to impregnate fertile females after persistent attempts over one [7 months] or more breeding seasons) brought to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital were used in this study during the breeding season (November 2016 to March 2017). Camel fertility was evaluated by means of camel fertility index (the number of females mated with this camel divided by the number of that conceived), clinical examination of the genital system and semen analysis (Skidmore et al, 2013;Waheed, Ghoneim, Hassieb, & Alsumait, 2014). All studied camels were maintained under standard feeding conditions (3-4 kg barely per day, Rhodes grass and water were provided ad libitum).…”

“…Prior to semen collection, camels were sedated intravenously with a mixture of xylazine (Rompun ® , Bayer; 0.15 mg/kg) and ketamine (Alfasan ® 10%, Holland; 2.5 mg/ kg; White, Way, & Trevor, 1982). The electro-ejaculator was adjusted in the automatic mode; each camel was subjected to two complete cycles, and each cycle consisted of 40 electric pulses (Waheed et al, 2014). The ejaculate was evaluated by conventional methods using Sperm Vision® 3.5 (Minitube of America, Inc.) with software validated for camel semen by the Minitube company.…”

A systemic review on ultrasonographic applications in camels

“…Moreover, testicular ultrasonography can afford veterinarians the opportunity for more precise diagnosis and treatment of numerous dromedary infertility disorders (Waheed et al, 2014).…”