The present study aimed to investigate the effect of different seasons on blood biochemical parameters of male dromedary camels in Algeria. A total number of 30 clinically healthy camels from five to seven years old were sampled in this study and biochemical analysis were performed using an automatic analyzer. The obtained results showed that the urea, creatine kinase and alanine amino transferase concentrations increased significantly during summer compared to other seasons. However, lactate dehydrogenase concentration increased significantly during winter versus other seasons. On the other hand, no significant effect of season was found on glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, creatinine, aspartate amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase concentrations.

Subclinical mastitis in dairy camels in Algeria: Comparison of screening testsThe aim of the present study was to determine a threshold values and to assess the effectiveness of four indirect tests for the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis in dairy camels comparing with bacteriological culture. One hundred fifty three milk samples from 17 lactating camels were subjected to bacteriological culture, where 84 milk samples were positive, 47 were negative and 22 samples were considered as contaminated. A total of 131 milk samples were screened by pH, electrical conductivity (EC), California mastitis test (CMT) and somatic cell count (SCC). The good combination of sensitivity and specificity were obtained with a threshold of 6.55, 7.2 mS/cm, score trace was considered as CMT (+) and 240 000 cells/ml for the four tests, respectively. The sensitivity of the SCC, pH, EC and CMT was 72. 61, 66.66, 47.61 and 39.28 %; the specificity 70.21, 38.02, 59.57 and 72.34 %; percentage accuracy 71.75, 51.14, 51.90 and 51.14 %; and positive predictive value 81.33, 47.61, 67.79 and 71.73 %, respectively. The SCC was significantly correlated with bacteriological culture (r = 0.415, p < 0.05). Kappa value of SCC was higher than that of other tests (SCC > CMT > EC > pH). In conclusion, the results suggest that the SCC was the most accurate, reliable, diagnostic method compared to other tests used in this study after cultural isolation for the detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy camel under field conditions. Key words: camels; dromedaries; Camelus dromedarius; lactation; subclinical mastitis; screening tests; indirect tests; pH value; electrical conductivity; California Mastitis Test; somatic cell count; bacteriological test Subklinični mastitis pri mlečnih kamelah v Alžiriji: primerjava presejalnih testovNamen te študije je bil določiti mejne vrednosti in preveriti učinkovitost štirih posrednih testov za diagnozo subkliničnega mastitisa pri kamelah v primerjavi z bakteriološko kulturo. Sto triinpetdeset vzorcev mleka 17 kamel v laktaciji smo analizirali s kultivacijsko metodo, kjer je bilo 84 vzorcev mleka pozitivnih, 47 je bilo negativnih, 22 vzorcev pa je bilo okuže-nih. Na skupno 131 vzorcih mleka smo izmerili pH vrednost, električno prevodnost (EC) in število somatskih celic (SCC) ter opravili Kalifornijski test za mastitis (CMT). Dobro kombinacijo občutljivosti in specifičnosti smo dobili pri mejnih vrednostih: za pH 6,55, električno prevodnost 7,2 mS/cm, pozitivnim izidom CMT (+) in 240.000 somatskimi celicami na ml mleka. Občutljivost testa za SCC je bila 72,61, za pH 66,66, za EC 47,61 in za CMT 39,28 %. Specifičnost testov se je gibala med 38,02 in 72,34 %; natančnost med 51,14 in 71,75 % in pozitivna napovedna vrednost med 47,61 in 81,33 %. SCC je bilo statistično značilno povezano z bakteriološko kulturo (r = 0,415, p < 0,05). Kapa vrednost za SCC je bila višja kot pri drugih testih (SCC > CMT > ES > pH). Rezultati kažejo, da je v praktičnih pogojih reje SCC med primerjanimi metodami najnatančnejša in najbolj zaneslj...

This study investigated the effects of subclinical mastitis on milk yield and milk composition parameters in dairy camels. A total of 140 camel milk samples were collected from multiparous she-camels (7-10 years old) and were subjected to bacteriological culture studies; 76 samples displayed subclinical mastitis and 64 samples were healthy. Furthermore, the samples were analyzed via standard procedures to determine the yield and composition parameters of the milk such as pH, electrical conductivity, protein, fat, lactose, and ash content. The results showed that the milk yield was significantly low (p < 0.05) in infected animals compared to healthy animals (3.80 vs 4.32 L·day-1). Moreover, compared to the values observed in healthy milk samples, milk from animals with subclinical mastitis showed significantly decreased (p < 0.05) protein (3.33 vs 3.40%) and fat (3.67 vs 3.74%) contents. However, no significant changes (p > 0.05) were observed in pH, electrical conductivity, lactose, or ash content. The results of the uninfected milk samples revealed that there was significant correlation between the protein and fat content (r = 0.781; p < 0.01) and between the lactose and ash content (r = 0.701; p < 0.01). Conversely, the infected ones showed that there was higher significant correlation between the protein and fat contents (r = 0.807; p < 0.01) and a medium correlation between the lactose and ash contents (r = 0.603; p < 0.01). In conclusion, the results suggest that subclinical mastitis is negatively associated with a reduced milk yield and lower protein and fat content. Thus, these parameters can be used to diagnose mastitis in dairy camels.

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Since its initial appearance in December 2019, COVID-19 has posed a serious challenge to healthcare authorities worldwide. The purpose of the current study was to identify the epidemiological context associated with the respiratory illness propagated by the spread of COVID-19 and outline various risk factors related to its evolution in the province of Debila (Southeastern Algeria). A retrospective analysis was carried out for a cohort of 612 COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals between March 2020 and February 2022. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Further, logistic regression analysis was employed to perform the odds ratio. In gendered comparison, males were found to have a higher rate of incidence and mortality compared to females. In terms of age, individuals with advanced ages of 60 years or over were typically correlated with higher rates of incidence and mortality in comparison toindividuals below this age. Furthermore, the current research indicated that peri-urban areas were less affected that the urban regions, which had relatively significant incidence and mortality rates. The summer season was marked with the highest incidence and mortality rate in comparison with other seasons. Patients who were hospitalized, were the age of 60 or over, or characterized by comorbidity, were mainly associated with death evolution (odds ratio [OR] = 8.695; p = 0.000), (OR = 6.192; p = 0.000), and (OR = 2.538; p = 0.000), respectively. The study identifies an important relationship between the sanitary status of patients, hospitalization, over-age categories, and the case severity of the COVID-19 patient.