The present study aimed to assess the freezability and functional integrity of dromedary camel spermatozoa harvested from three epididymal regions. Twenty five epididymes were obtained from slaughtered adult camels. The cauda, corpus and caput epididymides were isolated, incised and rinsed for obtaining the sperm rich fluid. Portion of this fluid was processed for cryopreservation. Fresh and frozen-thawed spermatozoa collected from different epididymal regions were evaluated for motility, livability, morphological abnormalities, membrane and acrosomal integrities as well as mitochondrial activity. Also, in vitro fertilization using camel mature oocytes and measuring DNA integrity using Comet assay were performed for these spermatozoa. The results showed that, there were no significant differences in livability among spermatozoa freshly collected from cauda, corpus and caput epididymides (81.16 ± 1.43, 80.20 ± 0.90 and 76.76 ± 1.95%, respectively). Total sperm motility increased dramatically from the caput (22.60 ± 0.96%) to the cauda (67.92 ± 1.14%) of the epididymis. Viability index of cauda frozen-thawed spermatozoa (96.50 ± 2.36%) was significantly higher than those of corpus (53.20 ± 3.11%) and caput epididymides (12.10 ± 1.10%). Fresh and frozen thawed spermatozoa of the cauda epididymides had significantly higher percentages of membrane integrity, cytoplasmic droplets and MTT reduction rate than the corresponding parameters of corpus and caput spermatozoa. Fresh and frozen thawed spermatozoa of the cauda epididymides had significantly higher fertilization rates (50.88 ± 1.10 and 38.64 ± 0.77%, respectively) than those of corpus (36.92 ± 0.79 and 22.16 ± 0.79%, respectively) and caput epididymides (12.48 ± 1.09 and 4.36 ± 0.59%, respectively). Only oocytes fertilized with fresh and frozen-thawed cauda epididymal spermatozoa developed to blastocysts (10.92 ± 0.52 and 8.12 ± 0.81%, respectively). The percentage of fresh cauda epididymal spermatozoa with non-fragmented DNA was higher than those of corpus and caput of epididymis (90.88 ± 1.55 vs. 78.28 ± 0.72 and 76.24 ± 1.02%, respectively). In conclusion, obtaining spermatozoa of good quality and freezability from dromedary camel cauda epididymides is possible, and these fresh and frozen-thawed spermatozoa may have the potential uses in IVF and AI for improving breeding potentials in this species.

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A total of 233 mastitic milk samples (151 cows and 82 ewes) and 90 mammary gland tissue samples (56 cows and 34 ewes) were collected from different Egyptian Governorates for P. multocida investigation as one of mastitis causing pathogens and its effect on the mammary gland tissues. The isolated P. multocida from clinical mastitic milk was slightly higher than that from subclinical form in both cows and ewes (15.3% versus 13.1% and 27.3% versus 26.7%, respectively) and it was isolated from the udder tissues of both cows and ewes with percentages of (17.85%) and (23.52%), respectively. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used as confirmatory, rapid and reliable test for detection of P. multocida antibodies in the tested milk samples and they were detected in mastitic cow's and ewe's milk whey in (17.2%) and (34.2%), respectively. The antibiogram profile of P. multocida was studied for detection of its susceptibility to 15 different antibiotics to detect the drug of choice for its treatment. P. multocida isolated from cow's milk showed more resistance to various antibiotics than that isolated from ewe's milk. The DNA integrity of mammary gland tissue cells was detected using comet assay and the percentage of DNA damage was significantly elevated in case of P. multocida infected mammary gland (P<0.05). In addition, the histopathological findings of P. multocida infected udder showed focal and/or diffuse chronic lymphocytic mastitis with an extensive degeneration and necrosis of the alveolar epithelium as well as interstitial tissue. Most of the mammary alveoli were filled with basophilic bacterial colonies with bipolar bodies positively stained by methylene blue and Giemsa stains. Cytological evaluation was conducted on all udder tissue samples and 16/18 positive cases (88.8%) were correlated with their histopathological examination. Histochemically, tissue sections from infected udder showed weak or no alkaline phosphatase activity and density of protein staining. It was concluded that P. multocida should be considered as an important sharing etiological agent of mastitis in both cows and ewes (especially in ewes) and associated with significant histopathological alterations in the glandular tissue structure. ELISA was considered as a quick and reliable technique for detection of P. multocida infection in the mammary gland especially in the un-vaccinated farms beside the traditional cultural method. The cytological interpretation was quiet helpful in rapid screening of the mammary gland affections.

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