Evaluation of the microbial quality of fresh ejaculates of camel (Camelus dromedarius) semen.

A series of five factorial arranged experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of different management during semen collection on the microbial quality (bacterial load, type of microbes and frequency of isolation) of dromedaries' semen. Microbial analysis of seventy-nine fresh ejaculates from twenty-two camels showed the presence of nine variant colonies. The most prevalent organisms in the dromedary semen were species of Staphylococcus, Bacillus and Streptococcus. One yeast species was represented among the isolates. The middle aged camels (9-13 years) had significantly (P>0.05) higher mean bacterial loads than young (4-8 years) and old aged (14-18 years) animals. The mean bacterial populations of ejaculates collected by an electro-ejaculator were significantly (P>0.05) higher than those collected by an artificial vagina. Candida spp. was identified in 53.8% of the samples collected by an electro-ejaculator and was not detected in ejaculates collected by an artificial vagina. The mean semen bacterial load detected during the breeding season was significantly (P<0.01) higher than that collected during the non-breeding season. No fungi were isolated from semen samples collected in the non-breeding season. The difference between the mean semen bacterial loads in the first and the second ejaculate was highly significant (P<0.01). The preputial wash significantly (P<0.01) reduced the bacterial load. This study revealed that the microbial contamination of dromedaries' semen is found in different intensities during different management procedures of semen collection.

Pharmacokinetics of progesterone in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarim).

The effect of ovariectomy or administration of progesterone (P4) on the disposition kinetics of P4 was determined in dromedary camels. The disappearance of P4 from peripheral circulation of the camel following ovariectomy or after a single intravenous (I.V.) injection of 1 mg kg(-1) body weight followed a bioexponential curve. Both curves were parallel indicating that the disappearance of injected P4 behaved similarly to endogenous P4. The mean (+/- SD) half-life calculated from the slower component of this decline, was 26.0 +/- 2.0 min after I.V. injection of P4 and 28.0 +/- 2.1 min after ovariectomy. The apparent volume of distribution (1370 ml kg(-1)) exceeded total body water suggesting extensive tissue penetration.