Arthrocentesis approaches to the phalangeal joints of the one humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Irrespective of the exceptional adaptation of dromedaries to harsh environmental conditions, they remain highly susceptible to joint lameness resulting from a range of diverse factors and conditions. The joints most often affected by traumatic osteoarthritis in dromedaries are the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints. A comprehensive understanding of joint anatomy and topography of the dromedary is required to perform arthrocentesis correctly on affected joints. Forty-two distal limbs were taken from 28 camels and studied by gross dissection, casting, ultrasonography, and computed tomography (CT). Representative three-dimensional models of the joint cavities, recesses, and pouches were obtained using different casting agents. This study provides a detailed description of dorsally, axially, and abaxially positioned joint recesses, as well as palmar/plantar positioned joint pouches. The safety and feasibility of the different arthrocentesis approaches were evaluated. The traditional dorsal arthrocentesis approach of the metacarpophalangeal, metatarsophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, and distal interphalangeal joints, has limitations due to the risk of damaging the tendon structures and articular cartilage, which can lead to joint degeneration. A lateral arthrocentesis approach via the proximal palmar/plantar pouches of the metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints is recommended. This approach eliminates the potential needle injury to the articulating joint cartilage and other surrounding joint structures, such as tendons, blood vessels, and nerves.

Effect of age, season, and gender on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology in camels

Background

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples are valued mirrors of different parts of the airway and can be used with other approaches to the diagnosis of the lower respiratory tract. Several previous studies on various animal species showed the effect of the season, gender, and age on the percentage of cells in the BALF samples.

Aim

The main aim of this study was to determine the impact of gender, age, and season on the cytological analysis in BALF of dromedary camels.

Methods

Thirteen healthy camels were involved in this study. Camels were selected based on general respiratory clinical scoring. BALF was done using a special BALF catheter. BALF samples were analyzed from dromedary camels by microscopic examination of prepared smears.

Results

The results of the BALF cytology percentage revealed that there was no variation between winter and summer in most cell types. Only the mean value of neutrophil cell percentage in BALF in winter increased significantly (10.75 ± 1.31) compared to summer (4.60 ± 0.81). The range of eosinophils was in summer (0-13) wider than in winter (0-2). A significant difference was recorded in lymphocytes, eosinophils, and epithelial cells percentage among adult and young camels. There was a high mean value of epithelial cells percentage in adult camels (10.17 ± 1.64) compared to young animals (3.0 ± 0.58). The results of the BALF cytology among males and camels showed no significant difference.

Conclusion

The present study revealed significant differences in the BALF cytology regarding age and season, but no impact on gender.

Comparison between a fitness tracker (EquimetreTM) and standard base-apex electrocardiography in dromedary camels

Background

Personalized healthcare technology has grown explosively through the use of portable and smart monitoring devices for diagnosis. The objective of this study was to determine the practicality and usability of the EquimetreTM fitness tracker on camels in comparison to the standard base-apex system in normal and clinical cases.

Methods

Five apparently healthy adult camels, five clinical adult cases and two clinical calves were enrolled in this study. The camels were equipped with two monitoring systems: EquimetreTM and a standard base-apex electrocardiogarphy. Each tracing was evaluated for the normal ECG variable's measure, including heart rate beats per min, P-R, QRS, R-R, Q-T, S-T intervals, and P-R and S-T segments in seconds. The amplitudes for P, Q, R, S, and T-peaks were evaluated in millivolts.

Results

EquimetreTM showed stability on ECG tracing with less movement artifacts compared with the standard base-apex system. Different polarities were observed for the P-waves and T-waves between the standard base-apex system and EquimetreTM. Both devices showed perfect agreement for heart rate (ICC = 1.00, P ≥ 0.0001, 95% = 1.00-1.00) in healthy and clinical adults. A good correlation was observed for the R-R interval between the devices in healthy and clinical adults. A moderate correlation was observed between the devices for Q-peak in clinical adults, with no correlation in clinical calves.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated acceptable ECG measurements between the standard base-apex and EquimetreTM device. This suggests that EquimetreTM could be a useful device in camels for initial electrocardiographic examinations in remote areas such as deserts.

Cytological and microbiological evaluation of conjunctiva in camels with and without conjunctivitis

OBJECTIVE

To describe the cytological analysis of conjunctiva from normal camels and camels with bacterial conjunctivitis.

ANIMALS STUDIED

This study was conducted on 7 normal camels and 15 camels affected with conjunctivitis. The affected camels had a history of conjunctivitis with signs including chemosis, blepharospasm, frequent blinking, and mild-to-moderate serous, mucoid, or purulent ocular discharge.

PROCEDURES

Bacterial swabs were collected from the inferior conjunctival sac of the affected eye without topical anesthetics. Conjunctival smears were obtained from the conjunctival surface for cytological analysis.

RESULTS

The cellular analysis of ocular smears revealed a higher percentage of basal cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, and macrophages in camels with conjunctivitis compared with normal camels. In contrast to this, smears from normal camels showed an increased percentage of superficial epithelial cells compared with affected camels. The microbiological assessment of conjunctival swabs collected from affected animals identified a bacterial growth of Staphylococcus aureus., Bacillus sp., Streptococcus sp., Enterococcus faecium., Staphylococcus sp., Corynebacterium sp., Coryne pseudotuberculosis., Saprophytica, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulagaris, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

CONCLUSIONS

It was observed that bacterial conjunctivitis in camels was associated with increased percentages of basal epithelial cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, and macrophages compared with normal camels, while normal camels showed an increased percentage of superficial epithelial cells compared with affected camels.

A retrospective study of choke (oesophageal obstruction) in 64 one-hump Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Saudi Arabia

Background

Choke (oesophageal obstruction) is an important oesophageal disorder in large domestic animals. Published studies on choke in the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) are few in number and deal with small number of cases.

Methods

Sixty-four camels with choke were presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, King Faisal University. History, breed, age, sex, duration of obstruction and clinical signs were recorded. The diagnosis was established using examination with a stomach tube, oesophageal radiography and endoscopy. Choke was managed either by using alligator forceps guided endoscope or by cervical oesophagotomy.

Results

Choke was recorded in camels less than 1 year old (84.38%) more than camels more than 1 year of age (15.62%) and complete obstruction more than partial. Most cases had obstruction involving the cervical oesophagus (96.87%). In the majority of obstructive masses, there were pieces of fabric (48.44%) and plastic bags (35.94%). Most obstructive masses were slightly radio-opaque (62.5%). Surgical and non-surgical managements were effective (91.3% and 94.44%, respectively) in resolving the choke.

Conclusions

Choke was most likely in animals less than 1 year of age with complete obstruction of the cervical oesophagus. Surgical and non-surgical methods were effective in resolving the choke in the dromedary camels. It was not practical to use forceps extraction in all adult camels due to the limited length of the alligator forceps.

Immune cell composition of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in healthy and respiratory diseased dromedary camels

Background

Respiratory diseases are among the most common and expensive to treat diseases in camels with a great economic impact on camel health, welfare, and production. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) has been proven as a valuable sample for investigating the leukocyte populations in the respiratory tract of several species. In the present study, fluorescent antibody labeling and flow cytometry were used to study the immune cell composition of BALF in dromedary camels. Animals with clinical respiratory diseases (n = seven) were compared with apparently healthy animals (n = 10). In addition, blood leukocytes from the same animals were stained in parallel with the same antibodies and analyzed by flow cytometry.

Results

Camel BALF macrophages, granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes were identified based on their forward and side scatter properties. The expression pattern of the cell markers CD172a, CD14, CD163, and MHCII molecules on BALF cells indicates a similar phenotype for camel, bovine, and porcine BALF myeloid cells. The comparison between camels with respiratory disease and healthy camels regarding cellular composition in their BALF revealed a higher total cell count, a higher fraction of granulocytes, and a lower fraction of macrophages in diseased than healthy camels. Within the lymphocyte population, the percentages of helper T cells and B cells were also higher in diseased than healthy camels. The elevated expression of the activation marker CD11a on helper T cells of diseased camels is an indication of the expansion of helper T cells population due to infection and exposure to respiratory pathogens. The higher abundance of MHCII molecules on BALF macrophages from diseased camels indicates a polarization toward an inflammatory macrophage phenotype (M1) in respiratory diseased camels. No significant differences were observed in the systemic leukogram between healthy and diseased animals.

Conclusions

Collectively, the current study represents the first report on flow cytometric analysis of immune cell composition of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in dromedary camels.

Comparative Study of the Sedative and Anti-nociceptive Effects of Sacrococcygeal Epidural Administration of Romifidine, Lidocaine, and Romifidine/Lidocaine in the Dromedary Camel

In a randomized prospective study, comparative sedative and anti-nociceptive effects of epidural administration of romifidine (RO), lidocaine (LD), and a combination of romifidine-lidocaine (ROLD) in camel were evaluated. Eighteen healthy adult dromedary camels were assigned randomly to three treatment groups (n = 6), each receiving 50 μg/kg of RO, 0.30 mg/kg of LD, or a combination of both RO and LD. All treatments were expanded in 0.9% sterile normal saline solution to a final dose volume of 20 ml and administered directly into the sacrococcygeal space. After epidural injection of each treatment, the onset time, duration, anatomical extension of anti-nociception, and sedation were documented. Anti-nociception was tested at different areas using a pinprick test and artery forceps pinching at the perineum and inguinal area. RO and ROLD treatments resulted in mild to severe sedation and complete bilateral analgesia with loss of sensation in the tail, perineum, scrotum in males, vulva in females, the caudal aspect skin of the upper hind limb, and inguinal region (udder in females and the prepuce in males). The anatomic extent of anti-nociception reached the chest cranially and the footpad distally. Camels who received LD showed the shortest duration (P < 0.001) to the onset of perineal anti-nociception (3.67 ± 0.33 min) followed by those who received RO LD (4.00 ± 0.37 min) and RO (6.67 ± 0.33 min), respectively. RO and ROLD resulted in significantly (P < 0.001) longer periods of analgesia (158.33 ± 4.01 min and 165 ± 3.87 min, respectively) than LD (75.83 ± 3.27). An epidural RO and ROLD would appear to produce a very effective and acceptable anti-nociceptive effect in the perineal and inguinal regions of camels.

The Impact of Anticoagulation Agent on the Composition and Phenotype of Blood Leukocytes in Dromedary Camels

For the analysis of several cellular biomarkers, blood samples are anticoagulated using different agents with different modes of action. However, for the most commonly used anticoagulants, EDTA and heparin, varying effects on blood components have been reported in different species. As little is known about the impact of anticoagulants on the immunological evaluation of camel leukocytes, the present study analyzed the leukogram, the immunophenotype, and the cell vitality of camel leukocytes separated from blood samples anticoagulated with EDTA or lithium heparin. Using flow cytometry and staining with monoclonal antibodies to several cell surface markers, the composition and immunophenotype of camel leukocytes separated from blood anticoagulated with EDTA or heparin were analyzed. In comparison to EDTA-anticoagulated blood, using lithium heparin as an anticoagulant resulted in reduced numbers of total leukocytes and reduced numbers of neutrophils, which led to a reduced neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio. The analysis of cell necrosis and apoptosis after the staining of leukocytes with the DNA-sensitive dye propidium iodide and the mitochondrial membrane potential probe JC1 revealed a higher fraction of necrotic neutrophils and higher fractions of apoptotic neutrophils and monocytes in heparin blood than in EDTA blood. In addition, monocytes from heparin blood showed higher expression levels of the cell surface markers CD14, CD163, and MHCII when compared to cells from EDTA blood. Similarly, in heparin blood, CD44 and CD172a were expressed higher on neutrophils, while CD11a was expressed higher on lymphocytes in comparison to cells from EDTA blood. The results of the current study indicate the importance of considering the type of anticoagulant when investigating the composition, vitality, and immunophenotype of camel leukocytes.

Esophageal obstruction due to trichobezoar in a she-camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Background

Occurrences of esophageal foreign bodies are common in camels. Esophageal obstruction in camels due to bezoars is rare.

Case Description

This report describes esophageal obstruction in camel due to trichobezoar. A 2-year-old she-camel presented with a history of inability to swallow and there was food and water regurgitation for one day before. Radiography and endoscopic examination revealed an oval-shaped foreign body embedded in the esophageal lumen in the level distal third of the neck. The foreign body was successfully removed using cervical esophagotomy under general anesthesia. Successful esophagostomy revealed trichobezoar weighing 45 g and measuring 85 mm × 75 mm × 42 mm. The trichobezoar removed from the esophagus was the cause of esophageal obstruction.

Conclusion

Esophageal obstruction in camel could be due to trichobezoar. Radiography and endoscopy are valuable diagnostic methods to determine the position and nature of an obstructive object.

Investigation of some trace elements and hematological and biochemical parameters in the blood of emaciated Omani goats

Background and Aim

The analysis of hematological and biochemical parameters is widely used in assessing animal health status. Limited information is available on trace element levels and their association with hematological and biochemical parameters in Omani goats suffering from emaciation. Therefore, the current study aimed to determine the levels of some trace elements in emaciated Omani goats and their relationship with hematological and biochemical parameters.

Materials and Methods

Goats suffering from emaciation and muscular dystrophy (n=18) were compared with healthy goats (n=12). Venous blood samples for the hematological, biochemical, and trace element analysis were collected from the jugular vein.

Results

Emaciated goats showed significantly lower white blood cell, lymphocyte, and red blood cell counts than the healthy goats. In contrast, the percentages of monocytes and eosinophils were higher in emaciated goats than in healthy ones. In addition, emaciated goats showed higher levels of biochemical parameters alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, and total bilirubin but lower levels of albumin than the healthy goats. The results of trace element analysis revealed lower concentrations of zinc, iron, and selenium in serum from emaciated goats than in serum from healthy goats.

Conclusion

This study identified significant differences in the serum levels of some trace elements and hematological and biochemical parameters between healthy and emaciated Omani goats. The identified differences represent valuable diagnostic biomarkers for the evaluation of the health status of Omani goats.

Clinical observations and molecular detection of Type-A influenza virus in some of the family Equidae in eastern Saudi Arabia winter-2019

OBJECTIVES

In the current study, we are investigating the viral causes of some respiratory clinical signs in some animals belongs to the family Equidae in eastern Saudi Arabia (ESA) during winter- 2019. We observed the progression of severe respiratory clinical signs among some horses, donkeys, and ponies in the ESA. Animals showed rapid respiration, fever, nasal discharges (started as serous then changed into mucopurulent with the progression of the infection per some animals). We conducted a longitudinal study to monitor the progression of this outbreak. We conducted molecular surveillance for the influenza virus Type-A using real-time PCR and regular RT-PCR. We also conducted a serosurveillance of the virus in sera of the tested animals using the commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

The molecular detection of the Influenza virus type-A virus from nasal swabs of the affected animals using the real-time PCR results clearly showing that 35.1% of the tested horses, donkeys, and ponies were positives. Further confirmation was achieved by reporting the seroconversion of some of the affected animals. Several attempts were conducted to isolate the circulating influenza strains using the embryonated chicken eggs were unsuccessful. This was based on the absence of any amplicons in the harvested embryonated egg fluids using some oligonucleotides for the common influenza virus genes (HA, NA, M, and N). Meanwhile, ELISA results revealed the detection of the antibodies in sera of horses and donkeys 72.9%. Seroconversion was reported in many animals several weeks after the onset of the outbreak. Taken together all these pieces of evidence, we confirm an influenza virus type-A outbreak among the tested animals during winter 2019.

Cytological analysis of tracheal wash and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in health and respiratory disease in dromedary camels

Background

Tracheal wash (TW) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) have proven to be useful tools for the identification of disease-associated changes in the respiratory tract in human and different animal species. In the dromedary camel, little is known about cytological analysis of TW and BAL in health and disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytological composition of TW and BAL in health and respiratory disease in dromedary camels.

Methods

TW and BAL samples were collected from dromedary camels and cytological analysis was performed by microscopic examination of prepared smears. Camels with clinical respiratory disease (n = 18) were compared with apparently healthy (control) camels (n = 9).

Results

In the apparently healthy camels, differential cytological analysis of TW samples identified macrophages and neutrophils as the main cell populations with lesser proportions of lymphocytes and epithelial cells and very rare abundance of eosinophils and mast cells. In the TW of camels with respiratory disease, neutrophils were the most abundant cells followed by macrophages and lymphocytes. In the BAL of healthy camels, macrophages represented the main cell type followed by lymphocytes and neutrophils. In respiratory-diseased camels, BAL samples contained higher percentages of neutrophils with reduced percentages of macrophages and lymphocytes in comparison to camels from the control group. Collectively, the results of the current study revealed higher abundance of neutrophils in the TW and BAL from dromedary camels than many other veterinary species. The cytological patterns of TW and BAL from camels with respiratory diseases were characterized by increased proportion of neutrophils and decreased proportion of macrophages in comparison to healthy camels. The proportion of lymphocytes was also decreased in TW samples from diseased camels.

Vertebrobasilar Contribution to Cerebral Arterial System of Dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedarius)

It is hypothesized that in the “more highly evolved” mammals, including the domesticated mammals, that the brainstem and the cerebellum receive arterial blood through the vertebrobasilar system whilst the internal carotid arteries primarily supply the forebrain. In camels, the arterial blood supply to the brain differs from that of ruminants since the internal carotid artery and the rostral epidural rete mirabile (RERM) are both present and the basilar artery contributes a significant proportion of cerebral afferent blood. In this study, we described the anatomical distribution of the vertebrobasilar system arterial supply in the dromedary. Secondly, we determined the direction of blood flow within the vertebral and basilar arteries using transcranial color doppler ultrasonography. Thirdly, we quantified the percentage arterial contributions of the carotid and vertebrobasilar systems to the dromedary brain. Fifty-five heads of freshly slaughtered male Omani dromedaries aged 2–6 years were dissected to determine the distribution and topography of the arterial distribution to the brain. Their anatomical orientation was assessed by casting techniques using epoxy resin, polyurethane resin and latex neoprene. The epoxy resin and polyurethane resin casts of the head and neck arteries were used to measure the diameter of vertebrobasilar arterial system and carotid arterial system at pre-determined locations. These arterial diameters were used to calculate the percentage of blood supplied by each arterial system. The vertebrobasilar system in dromedary camels consists of paired vertebral arteries that contribute to the ventral spinal artery and basilar artery at multiple locations. In most specimens the vertebral artery was the primary contributor to the basilar artery compared to that of the ventral spinal artery. In four specimens the ventral spinal arteries appear to be the dominant contributor to the basilar artery. Transcranial color doppler ultrasonography confirmed that the direction of blood flow within the vertebral and basilar arteries was toward the brain in animals examined in ventral recumbency and when standing. The vertebrobasilar system contributes 34% of the blood supply to the brain. The vertebrobasilar system is the exclusive supply to the medulla oblongata, pons and cerebellum.

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.

Dromedary camel CD14high MHCIIhigh monocytes display inflammatory properties and are reduced in newborn camel calves

Background

In human and different animal species, blood monocytes are classified based on their expression pattern of different monocytic markers into phenotypically and functionally different subsets. In the current study, we used flow cytometry and monoclonal antibodies to CD172a, CD14, CD163 and MHCII to identify monocyte subsets in peripheral blood of dromedary camels.

Results

Based on CD14, CD163 and MHCII expression, camel CD172a + monocytes were divided into three subsets: The major subpopulation of camel monocytes (mo-I) showed high expression of CD14 and CD163, but low expression of MHCII. A second subset of monocytes (mo-II) expressed highly all three markers, CD14, CD163 and MHCII. A third monocyte subset (mo-III) displayed low expression of CD14 and CD163 with high MHCII expression. While the two MHCII^high subsets (mo-II and mo-III) showed higher expression of CD11a in comparison to the MHCII^low subset (mo-I), CD18 and CD11b were highest expressed on the two CD14^high subsets (mo-I and mo-II). Bacterial stimulation of camel leukocytes identified mo-II cells as an antimicrobial monocyte subset with the highest phagocytic and ROS production capacity. The comparison of monocyte counts and phenotype between newborn calves and adult camels revealed significantly reduced numbers of mo-II cells in newborn animals. Monocytes of newborns expressed significantly more CD172a and CD163 molecules but less CD14 and MHCII molecules than monocytes of adult camels.

Conclusions

Camel monocyte subsets, mo-I, mo-II and mo-III are counterparts of bovine classical, intermediate and non-classical monocytes respectively. The distribution of camel monocyte subsets is influenced by age.

The Contribution of Specific and Nonspecific Biomarkers in Diagnosis of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) Under Field Condition

The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic efficiency of gastrin, pepsinogen, proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), and oxidative stress biomarkers in horses with equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS). Thirty horses diagnosed with gastroscopic EGUS and 15 clinically healthy horses were selected for this study. The serum levels of gastrin, pepsinogen showed nonsignificant changes in horses with EGUS when compared with healthy horses. The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 revealed a significant increase in horses with EGUS when compared with healthy ones. Oxidative stress is evident in horses with EGUS in comparison with healthy horses as detected by higher levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and nitric oxide (NO). MDA and TNF-α showed better sensitivity and specificity than IL-6 in distinguishing horses with EGUS from control horses. Conclusively, examination of serum gastrin and pepsinogen levels had a limited value in diagnosis of EGUS in horses under investigation. Moreover, this study showed that oxidative stress is evident in horses with EGUS. Higher levels of TNF-α and IL-6 indicate their role in EGUS pathogenesis in horses. Finally, MDA, TNF-α, and IL-6 could be used as biological markers for preliminary screening of horses with EGUS. Gastroscopy still accredited as the "gold standard" for diagnosis EGUS.

Evaluation of wet cupping therapy on the arterial and venous blood parameters in healthy Arabian horses

Aim:

Recently, the complementary therapies such as cupping and acupuncture are being used in veterinary medicine. This research was carried out to determine the effects of wet cupping therapy (Hijama) on the hematological and the biochemical parameters in the healthy Arabian horses for the first time.

Materials and Methods:

In this study, seven clinically healthy Arabian horses were randomly selected. Four points on the animal body were selected to perform the cupping therapy. Two points were selected at the back just behind the scapula on the left and right sides; another two points were located in the rump. Cups with 4 oz (125 ml) size with narrow mouths were used. A manual pump (sucking cups) was used to create the negative pressure within the cups during cupping. Arterial and venous blood parameters and serum cortisol concentration were measured before cupping and 3 days and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after cupping.

Results:

No significant differences were estimated in most hematological and biochemical parameters after cupping. A significant decrease in the concentration of serum cortisol was observed in 3 and 14 days after cupping.

Conclusions:

Cupping induced minor changes on the hematological and biochemical parameters in Arabian horses. This is the first trial on the effects of wet cupping therapy on the different parameters in Arabian horses, which would be useful for further investigations on the role of complementary therapies in horses. Our further studies will include different disease models.

Acute phase proteins, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor, nitric oxide and oxidative stress markers in horses with cutaneous habronemosis under field condition

Habronemosis is a common parasitic disease of horses worldwide. In order to investigate how haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA), oxidative stress markers, nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF- α), varies in cutaneous habronemosis, 30 horses with the clinical disease and 20 clinically healthy horses were included in the current study. The serum levels of Hp, SAA, and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), NO, malondialdehyde (MDA), super oxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined in horses before and after two weeks of treatment. The serum levels of Hp, SAA, IL-6, TNF-α and MDA were significantly elevated in infected horses as compared to the controls. Alternately, the serum levels of SOD, GSH, TAC and NO, were recorded low in infected horses as compared to the controls. All tested markers resumed the same levels after treatment as in control group. The Hp, SAA, IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA exhibited a high degree of clinical accuracy of the cases diagnosis. The area under the curve (AUC) for acute phase proteins (SAA, Hp), IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA was 0.87, 0.94, 0.96, 0.96 and 1.0, respectively. These findings showed that Hp, SAA, IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA may be supportive in the diagnosis of cutaneous habronemosis in horses and, simultaneously, they can also be used to monitor the progress of the treatment.

Impact of season, age and gender on some clinical, haematological and serum parameters in Shetland ponies in east province, Saudi Arabia

The Shetland ponies, which originate from harshest environments in the world islands in the north of the Atlantic Ocean, are now most popular pony breed distributed in almost every corner of the world. Reference ranges of physiological, biochemical and haematological values, which are widely used in veterinary clinics, may differ according to season, age, sex, type of feeding, and environmental circumstances of the area. Reference ranges of haematological and biochemical values of Shetland ponies are rare. The present study was therefore undertaken to evaluate the impact of season, age and sex on some haematological and biochemical values and cortisol levels in healthy ponies in Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted between December 2016 to June 2017 on ponies in and around Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia. Twenty-three clinically healthy ponies males and females of different ages were included for haematological and biochemical analysis in this study. For each animal, blood samples were collected in summer and winter. Four physiological, fourteen haematological, sixteen biochemical parameters as well as serum cortisol levels were analysed. Heart rate, respiratory rate, pulse and rectal temperature were increased in summer in comparison to winter. Values of heart rate proved significant at P < 0.05. The results of blood haematology and biochemistry of the ponies revealed that there was no significant variation between summer and winter in most of the haematological and biochemical parameters, while there was a slight significant difference in leucocyte counts, monocytes, MCH, MPVK⁺, platelets and AST activity. There were significant differences in serum cortisol concentration regarding season and age but not regarding gender.

Biochemical analysis of some serum trace elements in donkeys and horses in Eastern region of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Aim:

Little is known about the serum levels of trace elements in donkeys and horses in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to investigate the levels of some trace elements in these two species in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia and to compare the obtained results with the reference values.

Materials and Methods:

Seventeen Arabian horses and twenty eight Hassawi donkeys were randomly selected for this study. All of the studied healthy animals were kept under a uniform feeding protocol without any minerals supplementations. Atomic absorption spectrometer is used to estimate the serum concentrations of selenium (Se), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in the analyzed samples.

Results:

Significant differences between horses and donkeys were observed in three of the studied elements (Se, Mn, and Cr). Statistically significant differences were found in serum Se and Cr between male and female horses. The male donkey showed higher Mn, Cu, and Zn levels than female animals.

Conclusion:

The obtained results of trace element levels in serum of Hassawi donkeys and Arabian horses in Saudi Arabia are considered as the first values to be published for these breeds. When compared to other animals, the measured amounts of Se, Mn, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Zn in the serum of horses and donkey are often differed, possibly because of the varying living or feeding conditions. Moreover, there were some differences in some of the trace elements concentrations related to animal’s gender and species (horses and donkeys), which will be considered in the interpretation of the laboratory data.

Reactivity of commercially available monoclonal antibodies to human CD antigens with peripheral blood leucocytes of dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to cell surface molecules have been proven as a key tool for phenotypic and functional characterization of the cellular immune response. One of the major difficulties in studying camel cellular immunity consists in the lack of mAbs that dtect their leukocyte differentiation antigens. In the present study two-parameter flow cytometry was used to screen existing commercially available mAbs to human leukocyte antigens and major histocompatibility molecules (MHC) for their reactivity with camel leukocytes. The comparison of patterns of reactivity obtained after labelling human and camel leukocytes have shown that mAbs specific to human cluster of differentiation (CD) 18, CD11a, CD11b and CD14 are predicted to be cross-reactive with homologous camel antigens.

Some hematological and biochemical parameters of different goat breeds in Sultanate of Oman "A preliminary study"

Aim:

In Sultanate of Oman, goats are considered as one of the most important livestock in which there are many breeds of goat such as Batinah, Jabali, Dhofari, Jabal Al-Akhdar, Sahrawi, and Sahrawi Musandam. Little hematological and biochemical information is known on Omani goat breeds; therefore, the main purpose of this study was to determine reference baseline data regarding hematological and biochemical values of different Omani goat breeds.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 30 healthy animals of different Omani goat breeds (Jabali, Jabal Al-Akhdar, Sahrawi, and Sahrawi Musandam) were selected randomly from different areas in Sultanate of Oman. The blood samples were collected from the jugular vein into two tubes for blood hematology and biochemical analysis. Statistical analysis was applied by using GraphPad Prism 7 software to calculate the minimum and maximum values to determine the range, mean, standard deviation of the mean and the p value.

Results:

No statistically significant variation in most hematological and biochemical parameters was found among the Omani goat breeds. The results of blood hematology revealed that the mean white blood cells (14.6±3.32 ×10³/µL), and the percentage of neutrophils in Omani goats (60.87±8.46%) were higher than that in most goat breeds. Higher values of red blood cells (12.8±1.28 ×10⁶/µL), hemoglobin (10.4±1.92 g/dl), hematocrit (38.29±4.06%), and lower values of mean corpuscular HGB concentration (27.05±3.5 g/dl) were observed in Omani goat breeds comparing to that in the other goat breeds. Lower values of total bilirubin (0.22±0.03 mg/dl), blood urea nitrogen (14.62±2.66 mg/dl), and cholesterol (48.58±19.05 mg/dl) were found in Omani goat breeds when compared to that of the other goat breeds.

Conclusion:

The obtained results are considered as the first values to be published for the different Omani goat breeds. This study is considered as preliminary study which can be used as a reference for further studies to determine reference values for the studied breeds to aid the veterinarians in the interpretation of the laboratory data and for the selection of the appropriate treatment.