Clinical, microbial, histopathological and molecular investigation of interstitial pneumonia in camels in Iraq

Abstract

In this study, twenty-four camels in abattoirs of Al-Najaf and Al-Qadisiyah provinces were suspected to have interstitial bronchopneumonia. Clinical signs revealed protracted neck, misery, in appetence, heart rate was elevated (44±0.29bpm) and breathing was irregular and rapid (23±0.27bpm) and fever (39.2±0.1). Moist crackles heard at auscultation. Transtracheal wash (TTW) were sampled for cytology and bacteriology to make the diagnosis; white blood cells count (WBCc) was (1420±5.95cells/μl) with neutrophilia (48%), total protein (TP) records (355±4.29 mg/dl). Bacterial culture of the TTW revealed pure colonies on blood agar; which were recognized by the VITEK 2 compact device and confirmed using the conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as Klebsiella pneumonia ssp pneumonia. Postmortem specimen gave three kinds of colonies: the same one in TTW, which was the causative pathogen, two others; Staphylococcus lentus and St. vitulinus; diagnosed biochemically by VITEK 2 compact. Histopathological dissections on postmortem samples found in the lungs of camels ranged only in 4-8 years old, discovered the presence of interstitial bronchopneumonia.