Pathological Findings on Genital Abnormalities in Female Camel in the El Oued Region, Algeria

Abstract

The present study was performed to give a detailed histopathological description of genital abnormalities found in normal, clinically healthy female camels. A total of 165 apparently healthy female camels were randomly selected at the El Oued slaughterhouse at the south east of Algeria. Histopathological analysis was carried out on 25 pathological formations of ovaries (follicular, haemorrhagic and luteinized cysts and teratoma), uterine infections (clinical, chronic and pyometra), uterine serosal inclusion cyst, uterine agenesis and ovarian infundibular cyst, by establishing elementary lesions related to each macroscopic condition. A significant impairment of normal structure of each studied reproductive organ was recorded. The prevalence of animals showing genital abnormalities was 15%. The frequency incidence of ovarian lesions was ranked first (56%) followed by uterine affections (28%) and finally ovarian bursa abnormalities with four cases (16%). The incidence of genital conditions was as follows: follicular cysts (28%), haemorrhagic cysts (16%), hydrobursitis (16%), chronic endometritis (12%), luteinized follicular cysts (8%), clinical metritis (4%), pyometra (4%), dermoid cysts (4%), uterine agenesis (4%) and uterine serosal inclusion cysts (4%). The main lesions of the uterine infection were congestions, oedema, endometrial epithelium and glandular degeneration and infiltration by inflammatory cells. Uterine agenesis was characterised by a lack of endometrial glands and hyalinization of the myometrium. The mean lesions for the infundibular cyst were congestion, haemorrhage and hemosiderophages, infiltration by inflammatory cells, endometrial degeneration and vacuolation and pseudoglandular dilations. The ovarian dermoid cyst showed a keratinized and scaly epithelium housed in fibrous connective tissue containing hair follicles, and sebaceous and sweat glands. The ovarian cysts showed thin or enlarged granulosa and internal theca with luteinization or vacuolation of the antral cavity. Finally, serosal inclusion cyst of the uterus appeared as dilation between the myometrium and the perimetrium with homogenous content. Concerning the above, the reported elementary genital abnormalities are indicated as responsible for the delayed reproduction, infertility and unsatisfactory camel livestock outcomes.