Cadmium in Seminal Plasma of Fertile and Infertile Male Dromedary Camels.

The objective of this study was to investigate the cadmium (Cd) profile in seminal plasma of male dromedary camel with impotentia generandi (post-coital infertility, IG group, n = 14) in comparison with known fertile males (FERT group, n = 5). Andrological examination was carried out for all animals. Semen was collected with electroejaculation and examined for volume, concentration, motility, viability, and abnormality. Seminal fluid was harvested after centrifugation and analyzed for Cd using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results showed that sperm concentration, motility, and viability were higher, while sperm abnormality was lower in IG group than in FERT group (P < 0.05). Cd was higher in seminal plasma of IG group than in FERT group (P = 0.04). Negative correlation was found between Cd concentration and sperm concentration (r = - 0.511, P = 0.04). There was also a tendency for negative correlation between Cd concentration and the testicular size (r = - 0.455, P = 0.05). In conclusion, Cd may be one of factors causing infertility in male dromedary camels.

Azoospermia in male dromedary: Clinical findings, testicular biopsy, serum follicle stimulating hormone and seminal biomarkers.

Azoospermia is not an uncommon infertility problem in the male dromedary (Camelus dromedarius). Azoospermia was investigated via clinical findings, testicular biopsy as well as the evaluation of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), concentration of camel testis protein (TEX101) and camel epididymis-specific extracellular matrix protein (ECM1) in seminal fluids. Azoospermic male camels (AZOO group, n = 28) that had been detected to be infertile as a result of lack of resulting pregnancies after repeated mating's for at least one season were included in this study. Clinical examination, semen analysis and testicular biopsy sampling were conducted for each individual animal. Blood samples were collected from the AZOO and from reference fertile males (FERT group, n = 8) for the assay of FSH hormone and semen biomarkers (TEX101 and ECM1). There were bilaterally normal-sized testes in 42.8%, bilaterally small-sized testes in 35.7%, bilaterally large-sized testes in 7.1%, no testicles in 7.1% and only one testicle in 7.1% of azoospermic animals. Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCO) and maturation arrest were observed in 78.6% and 21.4% of the animals, respectively. There were greater concentrations of FSH in the AZOO group compared with the FERT group (P = 0.01). In conclusion, azoospermia in dromedary camels is mainly associated with spermatogenic defects and greater serum FSH concentrations. Seminal biomarkers, therefore, might be feasible indicators for identifying azoospermia in the male dromedary camels and the condition of non-obstructive azoospermia was seemingly prevalent in the male dromedary camels in the present study.

Erectile dysfunction in male dromedary camels: Clinical findings and changes in the nitric oxide metabolite, cardiac troponin I and testosterone concentrations.

This study aimed to clarify the phenomenon of erectile dysfunction (ED) in male camels and monitor the associated changes in nitric oxide metabolite (NOM), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and testosterone concentrations. A total 18 camels with ED and 10 controls were included in this study. The breeding history was recorded and a thorough breeding soundness examination was performed. Total nitrates and nitrites were determined in sera using the Griess assay. Serum cTnI and testosterone were assessed using ELISA. A complete blood count was also carried out. The results showed that 13/18 male camels with ED had no detectable pathologic lesions in the genital tract (ED-N), while 5/18 males showed pathology in the penis, prepuce, and testicles (ED-P). The ED-P group exhibited higher concentrations of NOMs (P = 0.003), white blood cells (P = 0.0001), and neutrophils (P = 0.001) than the ED-N and control groups. The ED-P and ED-N groups had higher concentrations of cTnI than the control group (P = 0.0001). Testosterone concentration did not differ among the groups. In conclusion, the ED in the camels was associated with a rise in cTnI, probably due to myositic damage. Most of the ED cases in the camels had apparently normal genital organs. In the cases of ED in male camels with detectable pathologic lesions on their genital organs, a rise in NOMs, white blood cells, and neutrophils was observed.

Phimosis in male dromedary camels: Clinical findings and changes in the hemogram, nitric oxide metabolites, and testosterone concentrations.

The objectives of this study were to elucidate the clinical findings in male dromedary camels with phimosis (PHI, n = 43) and to investigate the association of this syndrome with the hemogram, nitric oxide metabolites (NOMs), and testosterone concentrations. History and signalment were obtained, and a breeding soundness examination was performed. The penis was exteriorized after administration of a pudendal nerve block. Abnormal masses obtained from the prepuce and penis were prepared for histopathology. Blood samples for hemogram assessment were taken from the diseased animals and from 10 healthy control males. Total nitrates/nitrites were determined in sera using the Griess assay. Testosterone was estimated in sera using ELISA. Phimosis associated with detectable pathologic lesions, mainly including ulcerative posthitis and lacerated glans penis, was present in 34 (79.1%) of the 43 cases (PHI-P), whereas the remaining nine (20.9%) of the 43 cases had no noticeable lesions (PHI-N). The PHI-P group showed higher leukocyte counts (P = 0.001), especially neutrophils (P = 0.0001), and greater NOM concentrations (P = 0.002) than the PHI-N and control groups. However, testosterone concentrations did not differ among groups. In conclusion, PHI in the male dromedary camels was mainly associated with ulcerative posthitis and laceration of the glans penis. The presence of pathologic lesions in cases with PHI was associated with leukocytosis, neutrophilia, and high NOM concentrations.