Development of New Strategy for Non-Antibiotic Therapy: Dromedary Camel Lactoferrin Has a Potent Antimicrobial and Immunomodulator Effects

The human and bovine lactoferrin have been studied extensively, but very few reports have been published concerning camel lactoferrin (cLf). The present study aimed to isolate cLf and evaluate its efficiency including antimicrobial activity and immunomodulator effects. cLf isolation was attempted from camel milk whey using a cation exchange chromatography by SP-Sepharose. The antimicrobial activity of the isolated cLf was investigated against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aerogenosa) strains. The immune effect of cLf was studied by lymphocyte transformation test. It was found that cLf was separated around molecular weight of 80 kDa and showed significant inhibitory effect against E. coli followed by P. aeruginosa, S. agalactiae and S. aureus. cLf increased lymphocyte transformations mean values in a dose dependant manner. The highest transformations mean value was determined at 50 μg/mL. In conclusion, these results suggest that cLf is a potent natural antimicrobial and novel immunomodulator agent.

Surface Morphology Investigation of Tunisian Dromedary Hair

In raw materials of dromedary hair, there are two distinct fibre populations： The fine one is of textile relevance and the coarse one is rather worthless and must be as a rule separated prior to spinning and subsequent processing. The fibre surface morphology and fibre fineness of Tunisian dromedary hair has been investigated by means of scanning electron microscope （SEM）. SEM microscopic method provides the fibre diameter, the scale shape, the scale frequency and scale height. The results show that dehaired dromedary fibre presents a relatively low mean fibre diameter （≈ 17 μm） with a high coefficient of variation （CV ≈ 25%）. The scales of the dromedary fibre are on average extremely long and quite visible, they tend not to protrude from the fibre, appear almost convex, and provide a wavy appearance in profile of the relatively coarse fibre. On counting the scale frequency, that is, the number of scale margins within a determined fibre length of 100 μm on the surface of a fine （diameter 〈 30 μm） and coarse （diameter 〉 30 μm） dromedary fibre, comes out roughly five at eight and eight at twelve scale margins, respectively. The mean height of the cuticle scale is 0.12μm and 0.24 μm, respectively, for fine and coarse dromedary fibre. These explain why dromedary fibres present a soft touch due to the prominence of the scale edges. This aspect of the surface structure has a high correlation with the felting capacity of the matter, and contributes to the concepts of handle and gloss.

Effects of Transportation Stress during the Hot-Dry Season on Some Haematological and Physiological Parameters in Moroccan Dromedary Camels （Camelus dromedarius）

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of road transportation under heat conditions on some haematological [Ht （haematocrit）, blood cells count and EOF （erythrocytes osmotic fragility）] and physiological [Tr （rectal temperature）, HR （heart） and RR （respiratory rates）, and circulating levels of Cor （cortisol）, Glu （glucose） and minerals] parameters in Moroccan dromedary camels. The animals were subjected to road transportation stressor for 2 h by truck during the hot-dry season. Blood samples were collected before loading and transport, and at the end of transport. Transportation induced a significant increase （P 〈 0.05） of erythrocytes count, Ht, EOF, Tr, HR and RR by comparison to values observed before transportation. The same stress conditions induced a significant increase （P 〈 0.05） of plasma Cor （ng/mL） and blood Glu （mM） （220 ± 30 vs. 137 ± 20, 9.7 ± 1.2 vs. 6.4 ± 1. 1 respectively） and a significant decrease （P 〈 0.05） of plasma magnesium （mM） （0.5 ± 0.1 vs. 0.9 ± 0.1） comparatively to pre-transportation values. These results indicate that road transportation associated to heat may be considered as a potent stressor which is able to induce several cellular alterations in camels. Further studies of an eventual protective role of vitamin C against haemolysis induced by transportation stress in camel are needed.

The Contribution of the Dromedary in the Spontaneous Plant Seeds Transfer in the Northern Algerian Sahara

The current study focuses on the contribution of the dromedary in the preservation and increase of spontaneous flora through seeds transfer by endozoochory. Thus dromedary faeces have been collected in selected area of region of Ghardaia （Northern Algeria Sahara）, since it is one of the three known cameline rangelands during the four successive seasons of the years 2009-2010, in order to examine their seed contents. Our investigation allowed us to invento 1,832 seeds representing 33 different types varying according to the seasons of harvest. The biggest density of seeds was present in summer with 986 seeds, against 424 seeds in winter, 366 seeds in fall and 56 seeds in spring, and of the same way, the biggest number of types was present in summer with 30 types, consistent of the fall season with 26 types, and arrived then the season of winter with 20 types and the one of spring with five types. The gotten results allowed us to appreciate the ecological role of this animal in the desertic ecosystem in the dissemination and the proliferation of the seeds of the spontaneous flora in its fragile and hostile desert environment to the survival of the seeds enveloped in its faeces.

A Paucity of Detection of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Nucleic Acids in the Vaginal Secretions and the Urine of Some Naturally Infected Dromedary Camels

The dromedary camels play some critical roles in the evolution and transmission cycle of the MERS-CoV. There are no current available vaccines or antiviral medications to do prevention or to treat humans against the virus, respectively. Few studies reported the course of the MERS-CoV infection in dromedary camels under both the experiment and natural infection approaches. The curve of the viral particle, as well as its nucleic acids in nasal secretions of the dromedary camels, was reported in more details. However, MERS-CoV shedding in some other secretions such as vaginal secretions still understudied. The main goal of the current study was to check the possibility of MERS-CoV shedding of the MERS-CoV through the vaginal mucous membranes of some female camels. To achieve these goals, we conducted molecular surveillance on one dromedary camel herd in eastern Saudi Arabia. We collected the following swabs per each animal (nasal, rectal, and vaginal) as well as urine samples during the period from Jan 2020-April 2020. Testing of MERS-CoV nucleic acid (NA) was conducted in these swabs by the real-time PCR kits. Our results are showing that (47%, 21%, 0%, and 0%) of the (nasal, rectal, and vaginal) swabs, as well as the urine, were positive, respectively. All the tested vaginal swabs were negative. This may suggest the absence of MERS-CoV shedding in the female genital tract and urine samples despite the detection of the viral NA in the nasal swabs. This study is showing for the first time the failure of detection of the MERS-CoV in the vaginal secretions of some naturally infected dromedary camels. This result is enriching our understanding of the MERS-CoV shedding in various body secretions and excretions.

Life cycle and morphology of development stages of Physocephalus dromedarii (Nematoda: Spirocercidae)

Objective: To study the development of Physocephalus dromedarii(P. dromedarii) in the final host.Methods: For this, 5 adult dromedaries were orally infected with third larval stages of P. dromedarii obtained from naturally infected scarab beetles(Scarabaeus cristatus). The camels were necropsied 14, 42, 70, 84 and 280 days after infection and their abomasi were examined for the presence of nematodes.Results: Early 4th stage larva occurred already 2 weeks after infection. They were still in the sheet of the 3rd stage larva. Six weeks after infection, the nematodes became juvenile male and female adults measuring 9 and 10 mm, respectively. Their size doubled at 10 weeks post infection and patency was reached at 12 weeks. P. dromedarii was still present in the camel that was examined 40 weeks after infection.Conclusions: As a result of experimental infection of the natural host, the determined prepatent period of P. dromedarii equalled 12 weeks.

Study of Camelina Biodiversity in Southwestern of Algeria

In the framework of biodiversity＇s studies of animal＇s genetic resources in general and especially camels, the authors focused, in the case of biodiversity, on the phenotypic and genetic variability of each camel populations studied in southwestern of Algeria. The objective of the present study is to describe the conditions of dromedaries breeding, to analyze their phenotypic diversity, redefine the range flocks, highlight the perspectives of exploitation and use their products in livestock systems sustainablely. Knowing that the camel occupies a vital place in the socioeconomic development of breeders, owing to the multiple functions and services it provides. However, the pressures of diverse origins including population growth and recurrent droughts take serious threats to the development of the species. This survey was conducted during 2 years over 2500 animals owned by 60 farmers were studied. These animals were analyzed in terms of phenotypic and ethno-geographical evolution of breeding. A large number of blood samples （200） were collected, which allowed us to be the first DNA bank of camels in Algeria.

Sero-prevalence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus among Camels at a Slaughterhouse in Kenya, 2015

Dromedary camels are implicated as reservoirs of MERS-CoV （Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus）. High prevalence of MERS-CoV antibodies in dromedaries in Africa and Arabian Peninsula was demonstrated from sera archived between 1992 and 2012 with matching of camel-derived and human-derived sequences from various regions suggesting zoonotic transmission. We assessed sero-prevalence of anti-MERS-CoV antibodies among dromedaries at Athi-River slaughterhouse, Kenya. Proportions were calculated and associations between anti-MERS-CoV antibody sero-positivity and age group, sex, and origin of camels were assessed using Chi-square tests. Out of 373 specimens, 53% were females, antibody sero-prevalence was 82%. Sero-prevalence did not differ by age group, sex, or origin. This study reports high sero-prevalence of MERS-CoV antibodies demonstrated among camels brought for slaughter from different regions of Kenya. This was consistent with other studies in Africa among adult camels and further proves that the virus likely remains present in Kenya. Since only mature camels were assessed, more studies on younger populations of camels could help determine the dynamics of virus transmission. Though the risk from mature animals is not known, at some point these camels become re-infected and human populations exposed to camels may still face some risks.

Gross and Microscopic Lesions of the Ovaries of Camels from Abattoirs in Eastern Province of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

In the present investigation, gross and microscopic lesions of the ovaries were studied in two hundred and ten (210) adult non-pregnant she-camels. Fresh samples of ovaries were collected from she-camels at the point of slaughter in Al-Ahsa abattoir, Eastern region of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These samples were subjected to histopathological studies and stained by routine Hematoxylin and Eosin stain. Grossly, of the 210 ovarian tissues examined, 30 (14.28%) had ovarian lesions of one type or another, whereas 180 (85.71%) camels were apparently healthy. Only 6 (2.85%) ovaries showed unilateral ovarian hypoplasia, whereas 4 (1.9%) showed bilateral ovarian hypoplasia. Cystic ovaries were observed in a total of 13 of the collected samples of ovaries, of these 8 (3.8%) were diagnosed as follicular cystic ovaries, while 5 (2.38%) were luteal cystic ovaries. Ovarian abscess appeared in only one sample of the collected ovaries. While ovarian tumors were observed in a total of 6 of the collected samples distributed as, two fibromas, three dermoid cysts, and only one hemangioma. The present study indicates that follicular cysts, luteal cysts and ovarian hypoplasia were the most common ovarian disorders in non-pregnant she-camels in Al-Ahsa region of the Eastern Province of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Evaluation of a Rapid Immunochromatographic Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Antigen Detection Assay

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV)infection in humans has a high mortality of>30%.Dromedaries are the reservoir of MERS-CoV and the main source of human infections.However,MERS-CoV infections in dromedaries are usually subclinical.Rapid diagnosis of MERS-CoV infection in these animals is important in preventing camel-to-human transmission of the virus.The possible cross-reactivity of a previously reported rapid nucleocapsid protein-based antigen detection assay for MERS-CoV was examined with different CoVs,including Tylonycteris bat CoV HKU4,dromedary camel CoV UAE-HKU23,human CoV-229E,human CoV-OC43,severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV-2 and rabbit CoV HKU14,where none of them showed false-positive results.The assay was further validated using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction-confirmed MERS-CoV-positive and MERS-CoV-negative dromedary nasal samples collected in Dubai,the United Arab Emirates,which showed that the rapid antigen detection assay has a specificity of 100%and sensitivity of 91.7%.