Camels and Camelids

CLINICO-BIOCHEMICAL AND POSTMORTEM INVESTIGATIONS IN 60 CAMELS (Camelus dromedarius) WITH JOHNE’S DISEASE

Journal Edition: December 2013
Article DOI:
Published On: 03-09-2018 19:08

Mohamed Tharwat1,2, Fahd Al-Sobayil1 and Sobhy El-Magawry2
1Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia
2Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the clinical, haematological, biochemical and pathological findings in 60 camels (Camelus dromedarius) affected with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. The clinical findings were long-standing diarrhoea (sometimes intermittent), weight loss and poor condition. Haematological abnormalities included decreased haematocrit value, decreased haemoglobin concentration and leukocytosis. Analysis of serum revealed hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia and hyperglobulinemia. Other serum abnormalities included hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia and elevated serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase. The activities of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase as well as the concentrations of total bilirubin, urea nitrogen, creatinine, phosphorus and glucose were normal. Antemortem diagnosis of Johne’s disease in the camels depended on the clinical as well as the results of Ziehl-Neelsen staining of rectal smears and detection of acid-fast bacilli. Postmortem examination showed highly thickened intestinal mucous membranes that form folds. Granulomatous lesions were seen in the mesenteric, hepatic and mediastinal lymph nodes. Histopathological examination showed intense infiltration of epithelioid cells in the mucosa and submucosa of the intestine. These cells also infiltrated the lymph node, which also showed abscess with liquefactive necrosis. Acid-fast bacilli were also seen inside the epithelioid cells in the intestine and lymph nodes. Other pathological changes included congestion and fatty changes in the liver and degeneration of the renal tubular epithelium in the kidney.
Key words: Camels, clinicobiochemical, haematology, Johne’s disease, postmortem