Molecular Investigation on Tick-Borne Hemoparasites and Coxiella burnetii in Dromedary Camels (Camelusdromedarius) in Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi, UAE

Camels represent an important resource for inhabitants of the most arid regions of the world and their survival is mainly related to environment conditions including the risk of parasitic diseases, which may represent a significant cause of losses in livestock production of these areas. Camels may be parasitized by several hematophagous arthropods, which can be vectors of several diseases including zoonosis. This study aimed to investigate in dromedary camels and their ticks the importance of tick-borne hemoparasites that might be responsible for a recent and obscure morbidity of camels in Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, UAE. Blood samples and ticks from 93 naturally infected camels belonging to 36 herds, affected by variable acute clinical syndromes lasting from 3 to 5 days, were analyzed through molecular techniques for specific DNA presence of different blood pathogens: Anaplasmamarginale/Anaplasmaovis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Coxiella burnetii,Babesia spp., and Theileria spp. DNA. All the 72 ticks collected belonged to the Hyalomma dromedarii species and were negative for blood pathogens. n = 15 camels (16.1%) were found positive to the following tick-borne hemoparasites: A. phagocytophilum 11 (11.8%), Coxiella burnetii 3 (3.2%), and Babesia/Theileria spp. 2 (2.1%). One singular camel showed coinfection of C. burnetii and A. phagocytophiulm. Genetic profile of C. burnetii showed a high phylogenetic relatedness to European, Asian and African C. burnetii strains. This is the first laboratory investigation on tick-borne pathogens in camels in UAE, and the first report of A. phagocytophilum and C. burnetii. Moreover, since the detected pathogens are recognized pathogens for humans, this study highlights the zoonotic risk for humans working in camel husbandry.

RATIONAL WAY OF NATURAL PASTURE UTILIZATION IN CAMEL HUSBANDRY

The aim of the research is to develop a rational way of using natural pasture areas in productive camel breeding. The conducted studies showed that when grazing Arvana camels on each experimental field of pastures for one day (group I), the grazing capacity of these types of pastures was high and amounted to an average of 4.75 and 4.95 c/ha dry fodder mass during the spring-summer grazing season with the output of the eaten fodder reserve of 2.07 c/ha and 2.52 c/ha respectively. Similar indicators of grazing capacity of pastures when using each field of pastures in a row for 3 days (group II) and traditional grazing without dividing the territory into conditional experimental fields (control group) were significantly low and amounted to 3.80 (1.70) c/ha and 3.90 (2.05) c/ha; 2.60 (1.15) c/ha and 2.85 (1.54) c/ha of dry fodder mass according to the types of pastures respectively. The mode of pasture utilization with different loads had a noticeable impact on the feeding value of the grass stand of the main types of desert pastures. So, compared with the feeding value of pasture herbs, when using one day of each conventional pen (0.67 and 0.77 fodder units, 68.9 and 75.0 g of digestible protein) female camels for three days in a row on each experimental field (0.38 and 0.43 fodder units, 59.1 and 66.6 g of digestible protein) and traditional unsystematic utilization (0.31 and 0.35 fodder units, 48 and 53 g of digestible protein) significantly low, which ultimately affected the total grazing capacity and, consequently, the forage capacity of the main types of desert pastures. Generally, with a rational mode of use (with a conventional pen grazing method), the grazing capacity of shrubby-ephemeral sandy and half-shrubby-ephemeral pastures on loamy sierozem soils is 1.90 and 2.90 centners respectively of conventional fodder protein units per hectare, which is significantly higher compared to the control control (81.58% and 80.35%) and the II experimental group (60.0% and 59.65%). Milking camels of all experimental groups on seasonal saltwort pastures eat almost the same amount of pasture forage (22.80-23.95). In autumn (September-October), the average daily milk yield of female camels of the I, II and III experimental groups averaged 9.32 kg, 10.0 kg and 11.50 kg, respectively, this indicates a non-positive effect of normalized feeding of milking camels on their milking capacity in conditions of grazing maintenance.

Effect of Research Impact on Emerging Camel Husbandry, Welfare and Social-Related Awareness

The lack of applied scientific research on camels, despite them being recognized as production animals, compels the reorganization of emerging camel breeding systems with the aim of achieving successful camel welfare management strategies all over the world. Relevant and properly-framed research widely impacts dissemination of scientific contents and drives public willingness to enhance ethically acceptable conditions for domestic animals. Consumer perception of this livestock industry will improve and high-quality products will be obtained. This paper draws on bibliometric indicators as promoting factors for camel-related research advances, tracing historical scientific publications indexed in ScienceDirect directory from 1880–2019. Camel as a species did not affect Journal Citation Reports (JCR) impact (p > 0.05) despite the journal, author number, corresponding author origin, discipline and publication year affecting it (p < 0.001). Countries with traditionally well-established camel farming are also responsible for the papers with the highest academic impact. However, camel research advances may have only locally and partially influenced welfare related laws, so intentional harming acts and basic needs neglect may persist in these species. A sustainable camel industry requires those involved in camel research to influence business stakeholders and animal welfare advocacies by highlighting the benefits of camel wellbeing promotion, co-innovation partnership establishment and urgent enhancement of policy reform.

Drivers of MERS-CoV Emergence in Qatar

MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus) antibodies were detected in camels since 1983, but the first human case was only detected in 2012. This study sought to identify and quantify possible drivers for the MERS-CoV emergence and spillover to humans. A list of potential human, animal and environmental drivers for disease emergence were identified from literature. Trends in possible drivers were analyzed from national and international databases, and through structured interviews with experts in Qatar. The discovery and exploitation of oil and gas led to a 5-fold increase in Qatar GDP coupled with a 7-fold population growth in the past 30 years. The lifestyle gradually transformed from Bedouin life to urban sedentary life, along with a sharp increase in obesity and other comorbidities. Owing to substantial governmental support, camel husbandry and competitions flourished, exacerbating the already rapidly occurring desertification that forced banning of free grazing in 2005. Consequently, camels were housed in compact barns alongside their workers. The transition in husbandry leading to high density camel farming along with increased exposure to humans, combined with the increase of camel movement for the racing and breeding industry, have led to a convergence of factors driving spillover of MERS-CoV from camels to humans.

Estrous Cycle of Induced Ovulators: Lesson From The Camel — A Review

Camel, rabbit, cat, ferrets, minks, koala and meadow moles are induced ovulators requiring copulation to trigger the ovulatory process and the estrous cycle differs from that of other domestic animals. The estrous cycle in these animals composed of follicular recruitment, follicular growth, follicular maturity and follicular regression phase. These animals are variously reared as companion, fur-bearing and meat animals. Among these, the camel is the most valuable and classical induced ovulator which is rear not only for milk and meat, but as work animal and contributes effectively to the welfare of people in harsh and difficult environments. As a classical induced ovulatory, camelid has cycling receptivity with distinctive estrus but requires mating in order to ovulate. The other classes of induced ovulators like cats and ferrets require both the presence of male to achieve behavioral estrus and actual copulation to ovulate. The camel has good prospects of survival as a suitable livestock for projects of sustainable agriculture and animal production under harsh desert or arid conditions. However the reproductive nature of camels presents a huge challenge to camel husbandry. The natural constraints include the long period of attaining puberty, limited breeding season, difficulties in induced ovulation, long gestation period and inter-calving intervals. Efforts to improve the reproductive efficiency of the female camel are closely related to a better understanding of the folliculogenesis or follicular wave pattern. Many investigators might not be aware of the peculiar reproductive information available about this animal species. A working knowledge of ovarian function or estrous cycle will be of immense importance to the application of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) and enhancements of reproduction in camelids. This work presents the overview of estrous cycle in camel as a classical example of induced ovulators with the aim of providing current knowledge to the reader and to stimulate wider research interest in camel research and reproduction.