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Genetic parameters of birth weight trait in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius).

ABSTRACT: Birth weight data of dromedary calves from the database of one of the world's largest dairy herds (Dubai, UAE) were analyzed for the period from 2007 to 2018. The assessment included the data of 4124 camel calves that were classified into six ecotypes (Emirate, Emirate crossed, Black, Pakistanian, Saudi-Sudanian, and Saudi crossed). The aim of the study was to describe the heritability of birth weight of calves and the breeding value of sires. Genetic parameters of birth weight were estimated by ANOVA model and two BLUP animal models as well. The mean value of the camel calves' birth weight was 34.75?±?5.67 kg. The direct heritability of birth weight (h2d?=?0.09?±?0.04-0.11?±?0.03) was rather low, so was the maternal heritability (h2m?=?0.23?±?0.10-0.50?±?0.06). The maternal effect from environmental origin (c2?=?0.23?±?0.08) far exceeded the results previously calculated in cattle. There was no difference in reliability between BLUP1 and BLUP2 models, and both of them were more accurate than the ANOVA model. Based on the results of this study, we conclude that the birth weight of dromedary calves was more influenced by the dam's intrauterine rearing capacity and by the environment, management, and feeding of the pregnant female camels than the hereditary growth potential. Considerable differences were found among male dromedaries in their breeding values for the birth weight trait.

SUBMITTER: Bene S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7426291 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Genetic parameters of birth weight trait in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius).

Bene Szabolcs S Szabó Ferenc F Polgár J Péter JP Juhász Judit J Nagy Péter P

Tropical animal health and production 20200310 5

Birth weight data of dromedary calves from the database of one of the world's largest dairy herds (Dubai, UAE) were analyzed for the period from 2007 to 2018. The assessment included the data of 4124 camel calves that were classified into six ecotypes (Emirate, Emirate crossed, Black, Pakistanian, Saudi-Sudanian, and Saudi crossed). The aim of the study was to describe the heritability of birth weight of calves and the breeding value of sires. Genetic parameters of birth weight were estimated by ...[more]

PMID: 32157517

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Project description:Lactobacillus spp. is one of the beneficial lactic acid producing microbiota in the vagina, which is important for a healthy vaginal environment. However, little is known about vaginal Lactobacillus in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Therefore, this study aimed to isolate vaginal lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in dromedary camels and to study the probiotic potential of selected isolates. A total of 75 vaginal swabs were collected from pluriparous, non-pregnant, non-lactating dromedary camels. The LAB were isolated using deMan, Rogosa and Sharpe broth and agar media. Suspected LAB isolates were subjected to catalase testing and Gram staining and examined for indole production, nitrate reduction, hemolytic activity, cell surface hydrophobicity, auto- and coaggregation, antibacterial activity and characterized by 16S rRNA amplification and sequencing. Eighteen LABs were isolated from the 75 vaginal swabs. Among the 18 LAB isolates, six were Lactobacillus plantarum, eight were Lactobacillus fermentum, and four were Lactobacillus rhamnosus. None of the LAB isolates was hemolytic and only four LAB were H2O2 producing. The percentage of hydrophobicity ranged from 0% to 49.6%, 0% to 44.3% and 0% to 41.6% for hexadecane, xylene and toluene, respectively. All isolates showed higher (P < 0.05) autoaggregation after 24 h of incubation compared to 4 h. Furthermore, all LAB showed higher coaggregation (P < 0.05) and antimicrobial activity toward Staphylococcus aureus than to Escherichia coli. All LAB isolates were vancomycin resistant and sensitive to streptomycin, erythromycin, kanamycin and chloramphenicol. Only, three LAB isolates were resistant to tetracycline. The dromedary camel vaginal LAB isolates exhibited varying degrees of in vitro probiotic properties tested in this study and showed promising activity against the most common bacterial causes of endometritis in dromedary camels. Further investigation of the in vivo effect of these isolates is warranted.

Project description:BackgroundOutbreaks of a Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) like disease causing large mortalities in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Asia and in Africa have been reported since 1890. Yet the aetiology of this condition remains elusive. This study is the first to apply state of the art molecular methods to shed light on the nasopharyngeal carrier state of Pasteurellaceae in camels. The study focused on HS causing Pasteurella multocida capsular types B and E. Other Pasteurellaceae, implicated in common respiratory infections of animals, were also investigated.MethodsIn 2007 and 2008, 388 nasopharyngeal swabs were collected at 12 locations in North Kenya from 246 clinically healthy camels in 81 herds that had been affected by HS-like disease. Swabs were used to cultivate bacteria on blood agar and to extract DNA for subsequent PCR analysis targeting P. multocida and Mannheimia-specific gene sequences.ResultsForty-five samples were positive for P. multocida genes kmt and psl and for the P. multocida Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) specific sequences KTSP61/KTT72 but lacked HS-associated capsular type B and E genes capB and capE. This indicates circulation of HS strains in camels that lack established capsular types. Sequence analysis of the partial 16S rRNA gene identified 17 nasal swab isolates as 99% identical with Mannheimia granulomatis, demonstrating a hitherto unrecognised active carrier state for M. granulomatis or a closely related Mannheimia sp. in camels.ConclusionsThe findings of this study provide evidence for the presence of acapsular P. multocida or of hitherto unknown capsular types of P. multocida in camels, closely related to P. multocida strains causing HS in bovines. Further isolations and molecular studies of camelid P. multocida from healthy carriers and from HS-like disease in camels are necessary to provide conclusive answers. This paper is the first report on the isolation of M. granulomatis or a closely related new Mannheimia species from camelids.

Project description:IntroductionDromedary camels robustly withstand dehydration, and the rough desert environment but the adaptation mechanisms are not well understood. One of these mechanisms is that the dromedary camel increases its body temperature to reduce the process of evaporative cooling during the hot weather. Stress in general, has deleterious effects in the body. In this study, we sought to determine the effects of dehydration and rehydration on stress parameters in the dromedary camels and how it pacifies these effects.MethodsNineteen male camels were randomly divided into control, dehydrated and rehydrated groups, and fed alfalfa hay ad-libitum. The dehydrated and rehydrated groups were water-restricted for 20 days after which the rehydrated camels were provided with water for 72 h. The control and dehydrated camels were slaughtered at day 20 from the start of experiment whereas the rehydrated group was killed 72 h later. Many biochemical, hematological histopathological parameters and gene analysis were performed in relevant tissues collected including blood, plasma, and tissues.Results and discussionIt was observed that severely dehydrated camels lost body weight, passed very hard feces, few drops of concentrated urine, and were slightly stressed as reflected behaviorally by loss of appetite. Physiologically, the stress of dehydration elicited modulation of plasma stress hormones for water preservation and energy supply. Our results showed significant increase in cortisol, norepinephrine and dopamine, and significant decrease in epinephrine and serotonin. The significant increase in malondialdehyde was accompanied with significant increase in antioxidants (glutathione, retinol, thiamin, tocopherol) to provide tissue protection from oxidative stress. The physiological blood changes observed during dehydration serve different purposes and were quickly restored to normality by rehydration. The dehydrated/rehydrated camels showed reduced hump size and serous atrophy of perirenal and epicardial fat. The latter changes were accompanied by significantly increased expression of genes encoding proteins for energy production (ANGPTL4, ACSBG1) from fat and significantly decreased expression of genes (THRSP; FADS 1&2) encoding proteins enhancing energy expenditure. This process is vital for camel survival in the desert. Dehydration induced no major effects in the vital organs. Only minor degenerative changes were observed in hepatic and renal cells, physiological cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in heart and follicular hyperplasia in splenic but lipidosis was not depicted in liver hepatocytes. Ketone bodies were not smelled in urine, sweat and breathing of dehydrated animals supporting the previous finding that the ß hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, a key enzyme in ketone body formation, is low in the camel liver and rumen. Rehydration restored most of blood and tissues to normal or near normal. In conclusion, camels are adapted to combat dehydration stress and anorexia by increasing anti-stressors and modulating genes involved in fat metabolism.

Dataset Information

Genetic parameters of birth weight trait in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius).

Publications

Genetic parameters of birth weight trait in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius).

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