SOME IMMUNOLOGICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON CAMELS IN THE NORTH WESTERN COAST OF EGYPT

This study aimed to shed light on the most important bacteria that cause respiratory manifestations and their effect on inflammatory cytokines in camels, and their relationship with other immunological parameters such as Acute Phase Proteins, complement, and immunoglobulins. Lung specimens (n = 572) were collected for this investigation, with normal lungs identified in 390 (68.18%) serving as a control group, and pneumonic camel lung samples (n = 182; 31.82%) classified as the diseased group, all of which were collected from slaughterhouses in Egypt's North Western Coast. The isolates comprised nine genera of pathogenic bacteria; Staphylococcus spp. 88 (19%), Salmonella spp. 40 (8.7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 75 (16.4%), Pastuerella multocida 38 (8.3%), Mycoplasma spp. 58 (12.6%), Bacillus spp. 35 (7.6%), Streptococcus pyogenes 20 (4.3%), Streptococcus pneumoniae 68 (14.8%) and Proteus spp. 35 (7.6%). Using blood samples collected from both groups, the specified biochemical and immunological parameters were evaluated. The diseased camels exhibited substantial increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, TNF, and IFN-), acute phase proteins (fibrinogen, ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, and serum amyloid), and acute phase cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, TNF and IFN). Immunoglobulins increase, but total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) were not significantly affected by infection. In contrast, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, complement 3, complement 4, albumin serum levels, and the A/G ratio all decreased substantially, and hematological analysis revealed a highly significant decrease (P ≤ 0.01) in RBC count compared to the control group. Histopathological finding revealed a hyperplastic bronchiolar wall.