Clinical and anatomical studies of the camel (camelus dromedarius) genitalia

THERIOGENOLOGY

CLINICAL AND ANATOMICAL STUDIES OF THE CAMEL (C.amelus Dromedarius) GENITALIA K.T.F. DJang,IB.A.3Harun,1 J. Kumi~Diaka2 H.I. Yusuf and M.G, Udomah I Faculty of Veterinary Sciences University of Sokoto Sokoto Nigeria 2 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine bh,mdu Bello University Zaria Nigeria 3 College of Agriculture and Animal Sciences AhmaduBello University Kaduna Nigeria 4 College of Health Sciences University of Sokoto Sokoto Nigeria

Received for Publication: October 21, 1987 Accepted: September 2. 1988 ABSTRACT

Clinical and anatomical studies of the genitalia of 294 camel (197 males and 97 females) were carried out between May 198~ and October 1985. Preslaughter (clinical) examination was followed by detailed post-mortem (anatomical) examination and dissection of genitalia at the abattoir. Measurements and weights of the various segments of genitalia were made to establish the baseline data for breeding soundness evaluation in the dromedary in Northern Nigeria.

Key words:

genitalia, dromedary, morphometric data, breeding soundness

Acknowle~dgements We are grateful to the Vice - Chancellors of the University of Sokoto and AhmaduBello University for making funds available for this study. We would also like to thank the personnel at the abattoir for their services.

NOVEMBER 1988 VOL. 30 NO. 5

1023

THERIOGENOLOGY

.

INTRODUCTION The domestic one,imbed dromedary is attaining increased prominence as a source of moat in Nigeria, in addition to its age-long function as the means of transport. The desOrt encroachment into the Northern fringes of the country and the recent outbreaks of rinderpest, have reduced the populations of cattle, sheep and goats. The daily average ~ r c a p i t a consumption of animal protein i~Africa is only I0.6 g, well below the minimum dietary requirement of 29.01 g (q) and the world average of 24.4 g (2). This nee~ for a source of animal proteinhas created new interest in the camel, which is known for its ability to survive and flourish in semi-arid and arid zones. However, greater attention to the breeding and Broduction of the camel is required, if it is to fulfill this new role. A prerequisite to commercial breeding requires a better knowledge of the anatomy of the genitalia of the dromedary. Reported information on the reproductive performance of the domestic dromedary in Nigeria is practically nonexisteht. The aim of our study was to establish the morphometric and clinical anatomical data on the genitalia of the one-humped dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) in Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, 197 male and 97 female dromedaries ranging in age between 3 and 11 7 ~ere involve@. All the dromedaries were the Sudanese/ Chadian (pure and mixed) breeds, brought to the local slaughter houses at various times of the year in Zaria, Kaduna and Sokoto in northern Nigeria. All the dromedarius were given a thorough clinical physical examination on arrival at the abattoir. The genitalia were a]so given a post-mortem examination. Before slaughter, the male dromedary underwent the following procedures: The entire penile urethra, including the prepuce and sigmoid flexure, were thoroughly examined, visually and by pel~ation, and the lengths of the different parts of the penis were measured. The scrotal content (testes and epidiymes) were likewise examined and measurements were taken with regard to the scro%al circumference t length (pole to pole), width (mediolateral), depth (cranio-caudal) and weight. The lengths of the various parts of epidid~mis were measured and the weight was recorded. Measurements were made with flexible leather tape and metal calipers. The weights were taken in grams. Palpation per rectum of the internal genitalia wascarried out and digital measurements of the pelvic urethra were recorded. In the female dromedary, physical examination of %he udder, vulva and perivulval area was conducted, and the length of the vulva (dorsoventral) was measured. Vaginoscopic examination of the vagina was done, and palpation per rectum was carried out to estimate the length "of the

*A highly contagious viral disease primarily of cattle characterised by a rapidly fatal febrile course with high mortality and morbidity in the tropics.

1024

N O V E M B E R 1988 V O L . 30 NO. 5

THERIOGENOLOGY

cervix and uterus and these were verified with a ruler. A post-mortem examination of the entire genitalia, including the gonads in both the male and female dromedaries was done immediately after slaughter. The organs were identified, separated and examined for the presence of lesions. The weights and dimension of the various organs were taken. The live animal and post-mortem weights and dimensions of the genitalia were cr~e8 -tabulated and statistically compared based on means and standard deviation. These data presented the precise distribu~ionaleharacteristics and variabilities of the weights and dimensions of the genitalia by age and sex of the dromedaries (10)~ RESULTS Male Genitalia The mean clinical lengths of different segments of the penis were 2.59 t 0.35 cm, 11.61 ~ 1.85 cm and 52.41 ~ 0.90 cm for the glans penis, sigmoid flexure and total+penis length, respectively. The average pelvic urethra length was 50.54 . 10.2 cm. The mean scrotal circumference for dromedaries was 32.39 ~ 2.41 cm. (Table 1)~ Table 1. Clinical measurements of 197 male dromedaries by age and scrotalcircumference. Group

No. of male dromedaries

1 2 3 4 5

39 32 20 44 62

Age (years)

3 to 4 to 5 to 6 to 7+

4 5 6 ?

Scrotal circumference (centimeters) 29.36 30.62 32.41 33..16 36.42

Group total

:

p

N

= 197

-

32.39

Group mean scrotal circumference : 32.39 cm. Group standard deviation = 2.41 cm. The anatomical post-martea mean values were 2.59 +- 0.32 cm, 12.00 +- 0.07 cm and 63.59 + 0.51 cm for the glans penis, the sigmoid flexure and the entire penis respectively (Table 2), No seminal vesicles, cowpers glans or distinct ampullae could be l~alpated per rectum, and no seminal vesicles were found post-mortem. The prostate measured 4x5 c a . The anatomical mean values of the testic length were 9.26 + 0.69 cm and 9 , ~ + 0.63 om in the rainy and dry seasons respectively. The mean widths were 4.45 + 0.37 cm and 4.54 +- 0 . ~ cm in the rainy and dry season~espectively. The anatomical mean testic-~r wei{ht for the rainy and dry seasons were 36.70 + 0.94 om and 37.55 - 0.80 c~respectively.

NOVEMBER 1988 VOL. 30 NO. 5

1025

THERIOGENOLOGY

~

~

O

~

i 8

O

i

O

.i-I ~.4 O

o

4-1

¢Xl 4

'q.i

v 1.4

O

o -H

o

0 o 0 0

! v

4Jv

!i

°H

¢)

O~ ~

O..~

II

~'~

I~1

II

o~

O ox

~o~

,3

• 0

~.~

u'x

B i-4 o .H

tt~

I: 1

1026

~)

txl

d

~

~'~

X

~,'d

NOVEMBER 1988 VOL. 30 NO. 5

THERIOGENOLOGY

~ ,~ .,-t

0

~

~ ~

.~-0

.el , " •

",4

.~'- ~ •

. ? t ~ O 0 0

I%,0

•

qJ •

o~0

0

(P

0 ~ 0 ~ ~ 0 ~ ~

ol

Q

I

I

t'-O

C"O~ 0

i

0ooo

!

0 0 0 0

.= n

0

.'do

('kl ~ -

II

I

I:I

I

.PI

tl

II

!

tO 4~

-,'I" co

E~

,-t

0

8~ cl,.i o

o ,-I"

w ~o

•

o

w t~

I/I 1.1 ~ 4=~ .Pl

,--I

NOVEMBER 1988 VOL. 30 NO. 5

1027

THER/OGENOLOGY

t,~

kO

tt% ~ 0

",.D

O

tt~

,4,4,4,4,4

4~

,4

c"

4~ 0

0

°~

Ok eC r"

4.~

~ 85

0

t'.-

v

°~

t.,t ~ ,~

.4-

I.~

",D

12".,-

0 a,~

0 4-)

0 4-~

0 4-)

U~

~D

frH-.q"

(M

('%1

C'-

O

L~i'-

N

*r.I

ll

r.'-

t'~

I~

~

t~

II

e-t ¢,) 0

~

o.

,.4,4,4,4,4

0

o t4

.d

t~

tt~

,4

,:3

4r

,.rl

4-

~t

0

(11

,4 ,4 ,4 ,4 ,.~

o!1

~°

(M

(M

~J

t'kl

,41

°~ i-I

1028

N O V E M B E R 1988 VOL. 30 NO. 5

THE~OGENOLOGY

Female Genitalia As s-.m~ized in Table 4, the mean values of the clinical dimensions of the genitalia were 6.25 ~ 1.05 cm for the vulva (dorsoventral),+24.14 ~- 3.44 cm for the vagina, 4.23 + 1.31 cm for the cervix, an~ 2.'37 - 0.75 cm (length) and 5.10 ~ 0.92 cm (width) for the uterine body. The anatomical post-mortem mean values (Table 4 ) o f genitalia were 7.12 • 0.52 cm, 29.01 • 1.82 cm for the vagina, 3.53 -~ 0.26 cm for t~e cervix, 2.62 ~ 0.25 cm for the length of the uterine body, and 6.05 0.49 cm for the width of the uterine body. The mean weight of the ovaries (two) was 3.50 ~ 0.85 g. DISCUSSION The group mean scrotal circumference (Table 1) of the 197 dromedaries was 32.39 cm and the group standard deviation was 2.41 cm. There appears to be an increase in scrotal circumference with increase in age. This may be explained by the fact that the dromedaries in northern Nigeria one bred between 6 and 7 yr of age, the higher scrotal circumference recorded in dromedaries older than 7 years could be attributedto increased physiological activity of the testis during this time. The clinico-morphometric data of the female genitalia and the internal organs of the male were taken while the animals were in ventral recumbency. The hook-shape of the glans penis with its well-defined neck and urethral section conforms with the description provided by Mobarak et al (3). However, the average 2 to 3 cm length shorter th~n earlier reported measurements of 6 c m x 2 mm in diameter (3). The point of the penile sheath is directed pesteriourly and carries a very marrow orifice (about 2.2 cm in diameter). This conforms with an earlier observation (3). The mean total penile length of 63.59 cm obtained in our study falls within the range of an earlier study (3), which gave mean total penile lengths of between 59.6 and 67.5 cm. The penis originates in the region of the ischiatic arch through three cavernous bodies by a thick tunica albuginea. There is a si~noid flexure which is prescrotal and divides the penis into the pre-, postand intra-sigmoid portions. This anatomy differs from that found in the bull. The diameter of the pelvic urethra of the mature male dromedary (5.3 @ 0.32 cm) was bigger than that of the bull but slightly smaller than that of the buffalo (4,5). Upon clinical examination, the pelvic urethra varied in texture between firm and nearly hard. The hard texture may be due to increased response to stimulation of the organ from the palpation. The apparent absence of seminal vescicles and distinct ampullae differs from that in the bull. There is a dilation at the terminal portion of the vas deferens in the dromedary in the area generally occupied by the ampullae this conforms with an earlier report (5). The anatomical location and shape of the cowpers gland and the prostate are similar to those in the bull. This location makes clinical palpation of the cowper's gland rather difficult since the gland tends to merge with the erector penis muscle. The average weight of the testicles, as observed in our study, was far smaller than that documented earlier (6).

NOVEMBER 1988 VOL. 30 NO. 5

1029

THE~OGENOLOGY

This gross weight discrepency might be partly due to such factors as the age range of the dromedaries, body weight, breed and total number of animals involved in the studies. In addition, the time of year at which the studies were conducted may have influenced testicular weight. In earlier studies, as in ours, it was observed that the right testis was slightly smaller th~n the left. However, seasonal observations of means, weights, lengths and widths of testes show very little variation. This is explained by the fact that there is no seasonality of rutting in the tropics. The gross appearance of the ovaries showed no significant difference from those of the ewe and cow. The clinical and anatomical dimensions and weights of ovaries were comparable to data obtained by Chahrasbi et al. (7) for camles, and they were within the ranges reported for cows (8). The location and shape of the corpora lutea (CL) and follicles on the ovaries were similar to those seen in the cow, although the mature CL in the dromedary appears smaller than in the cow. The dromedary has a bicornuate uterus. The uterine body, whose length and width averaged 2.62 and 6.05 on, respectively, had a mean weight between 180 to 400 g, depending on the phase of the estrous. Shalash (9) estimated the average uterine weight to be 193.7 g, depending on physiological state of the animal. The presence of cervical folds were similar to those in the mature bovine. The dimensions of the cervix were within the range reported for the cow (8), although they were slightly shorter. In all our findings, the difference between the clinical and anatomical (pOst-mortem) data were significant. Inherent inaccuracies associated with measurement, and palpation per rectum and scrotal palpations could be contributing factors to the differences. Anatomical data were obtained after the dissection of organs and removal of fat and fascia before measurements and weights were taken. The resets were, therefore, bound to be more accurate than clinical measurements. However, the significance of having anatomical and clinical measurements to establish baseline morphometric data cannot be overemphasized. It is hoped that the information obtained in our study will be of value in examining dromedaries for Breeding soundness evaluation that is becoming so essential to the me~-producing industry in northern Nigeria. REFERn~CES 1.

Alim, K. A. The livesto@k and meat industry of Egypt. World Rev. Anim. Prod. 42".~9 - 67 (1976).

2.

F.A.O. (Food and AgriculTural Organisation). Year Book, 1978. (1979) Rome.

3.

Mobarak, A.M. El-wishy, A.B. and Samira, M.F. The penis and prepuce of the one-humped camel (C. dromedarius). Zentralbl. Ve~terinarmed 19...:787- 795 (1972).

4.

Blom, E. and Christensen, N.O. Studies on pathological conditions in the testis, epidi~ymis, and accessory sex glands of Bulls. Skandinav Vet. Tidskr .37:I, (1947).

1030

Production

NOVEMBER 1988 VOL. 30 NO. 5

THE~OGENOLOGY

5.

Osman, A.M. Some clinical studies on the accessory genitalia and copulatory organs of the E ~ t i a n Buffalo bulls, Egyptian Vet, Med. Ass., 5._.~'.77 - 92 ( 1 9 7 1 ) .

6.

El-wishy, A.B. and Omar, A.M. On the relation between testes size and sperm reserves in the one humped camel (~amelus dromedarius). Beitr. Trop. Landwirtsch. Veterinarmed. 13::~91 - 398 (1975)o

7°

Ch~hvasbi, A° Radmehr, B. and Goulbazhagh, F. Anatomy and histology of the reproductive organs of the Iramian camel (Camelus dromedarius). 1. Ovary J. Vet. Fac. University of TehraU 30~k2 -~--~--~975).

8.

ZemJanis, R. Diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in animal production. Bailliere Tindal and Cox, l~)ndon, (1962) pp. 16 - 25.

9.

Shalash, M.R. S~me reproductive aspects in the female camel." World Rev. Anita. Prod. 4:103 (1965).

10.

Snedecor, G. W. Statistical Methods. Ames, 1956.

Iowa State College Press,

11.

Williamson, G. and Payne, W.J.A. An Introd%ction to Animal production in the Tropics. Longman,London~1978j ?. 755.

12.

Frazer, A.~. Press, 1968.

Reproductive BehaWiour in Ungulates.

NOVEMBER 1988 VOL. 30 NO. 5

New York, Academic

1031