Comparative study on lesions of reproductive disorders of cows and female dromedary camels slaughtered at Addis Ababa, Adama and Akaki abbatoirs with bacterial isolation and characterization

Abstract

Background: Reproduction is a basic prerequisite to efficient livestock production. Reproductive performance depends upon the normal structure and function of genital organs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2016 to May 2017 to identify and compare the frequency of pathological lesions in the reproductive tract and to isolate bacteria associated to uterine lesions in female dromedary camels and cows slaughtered at Akaki camel slaughter house and Addis Ababa and Adama municipal abattoirs. Abattoirs were visited once per week for 28 weeks during which three to seven animals on average were slaughtered per day. A purposive sampling technique was employed to examine reproductive tracts of all slaughtered animals (280; 140 cows and 140 camels). Following gross inspection at abattoirs, tissue samples with lesion were collected for histopathological and bacteriological investigation. Result: Various pathological lesions with different degrees of severity were observed in 48 (34.2%) and 51 (36.4%) of dromedary camels and cows, respectively. Uterine lesions were the most prevalent 21.4% lesions observed in dromedary camels followed by ovarian lesions 7.14%; while in cows, ovarian lesions were the major prevalent 16.4% lesions followed by uterine lesion 14.2%. The result showed that there were 56 bacteria isolated from cows uterine lesion with Staphylococcus species 28.5%, Streptococci species 19.6%, Coynebacterium species 8.9%, Escherichia coli 26.78%, Salmonella species 10.7% and Klebsiella species 5.35% being the prominent isolates; while in camels, there were 45 bacteria isolated with Escherichia coli 35.5%, Staphylococcus species 26.6%, Streptococcus species 13.3%, Pseudomonas species 6.6 %, Proteus species 4.4%, Salmonella species 8.8% and Klebsiella species 4.4% being the most frequently isolated. The result showed that the major isolates were similar with slightly higher in cows. Histopathologically, endometrial glands degeneration, sloughing of epithelium, peri-glandular cuffing and infiltrations of inflammatory cell were some of characteristic changes observed in uterus. Conclusions: Pathological lesions in reproductive organs in female dromedary camels and cows showed great prevalence, with similarity in bacterial isolates between the two species. The role of each reproductive lesions and bacterial isolates incriminated as causes of reproductive failures in this livestock species needs further investigation.