Genomic differences among strains of Corynebacterium cystitidis isolated from uterus of camels.

INTRODUCTION: Members of the Corynebacterium cystitidis species are usually isolated from kidney and urine of cow having pyelonephritis. Nevertheless, we have isolated Corynebacterium cystitidis for the first time from uterus of camels, extending the type of mammalian host for this species. Furthermore, it remains unknown whether there are significant genetic variations between strains isolated from different host species and anatomic sites. In this perspective, we investigated the genomic diversity of Corynebacterium cystitidis species, whose pan genome remain unexplored to date. METHODOLOGY: Thus, we sequenced and compared the genomes of five Corynebacterium cystitidis of camel origin and a public genome of cow associated Corynebacterium cystitidis. RESULTS: Results revealed open pan genome of 4,038 gene clusters and horizontal gene transfer played a role in the extensive genetic diversity. Further, we found an obvious distinction between cow and camel associated C. cystitidis via phylogenomic analysis and by average nucleotide identity value of 95% between the two distant lineages and > 99% within camel associated C. cystitidis strains. Moreover, our data supports the hypothesis that the gene repertoire of cow associated Corynebacterium cystitidis developed so as to become more adaptable to the urine milieu. These genetic potentials are specifically evident for genes required for benzoate breakdown, iron transport, citrate and alanine utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the differentiation of strains into camel lineage and cow lineage. These different niches, comprising the uterus of camel and urinary tract of cow probably played a role in shaping the gene repertoire of strains.

Leukocyte populations in peripheral blood of dromedary camels with clinical endometritis.

Endometritis represents the main cause of reproductive failure in dromedary camels. In dromedary camels, associations between endometritis-causing pathogen-species, disease severity, and systemic changes in the immune system have not been evaluated. In the current study, there was use of flow cytometry and immunofluorescence of membrane proteins for the evaluation of leukocyte subsets and the cellular phenotype in blood of camels with clinical endometritis and evaluations of associations with disease severity and endometritis-causing pathogens. Animals with endometritis had markedly larger numbers of total leukocytes and neutrophils. Although total lymphocyte and monocyte counts did not differ between camels with and without clinical endometritis, there were lesser numbers of total and effector CD4-positive T cells in camels with endometritis. Among monocytes, number of camel inflammatory monocytes (Mo-II) was markedly greater, whereas Mo-III numbers were less in the blood of camels with clinical endometritis. Number of inflammatory monocytes was also indicative of endometritis severity grade. Among camels with clinical endometritis, E. coli- and S. aureus-infected animals had similar endometritis grades and comparable phenotype and composition patterns of leukocytes. Neutrophils and monocytes of camels with clinical endometritis had fewer cell adhesion molecules (i.e., CD11a and CD18). Collectively, the results from the current study allowed for identification of associations between endometritis severity grade and larger numbers of inflammatory monocytes. The results also indicate there is no association between endometritis pathogen-species and changes in phenotype or composition of blood leukocytes.