title: Testicular cytological profiles of apparently healthy male dromedary camels during rutting and non-rutting periods.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate testicular cytological profiles of apparently healthy dromedary bulls during rutting and non-rutting periods. Pairs of testes from 26 (18 non-rutting and 8 rutting seasons) dromedary bulls 6-12 years old that were slaughtered at Akaki, Addis Ababa abattoir were sampled. A 21 gauge needle attached to 20mL syringe was used to collect Testicular Fine Needle Aspiration (TFNA) samples and five aspiration smears were prepared from each testis. A total of 312 slides (260 Testicular fine Needle Aspiration and 52 imprints) were examined. The mod ified May-Grunwald Giemsa (mMGG) technique and a light microscope were used to assess cellularity, morphology and quantification of the testicular. Sertoli and spermatogenic cells were identified and counted. The spermatic index (SI), Sertoli cell index (SEI) and the relationship between SI and SEI indexes (SSEI) were used to assess the ratio between mature spermatozoa and nursing cells. There were differences (P<0.05) between the rutting and non-rutting seasons among the spermatogenic and Sertoli cells. There were no differences between groups for primary spermatocyte numbers, early spermatid numbers and SSEI. There was no differences (P>0.05) between TFNA and imprint smear slides of the testicular cells except for Sertoli cell count and SEI. Filarial worm larvae were present on the TFNA smear slides of four animals. Imprint and TFNA smear slides had comparable cytological profiles in dromedary bulls and significant differences were observed between rutting and non-rutting periods.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, P.O.BOX: 34, Bishoftu, Ethiopia; College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O.BOX: 7062, Kampala, Uganda. Electronic address: drsimenew@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Simenew Keskes
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Melaku
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, P.O.BOX: 34, Bishoftu, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Fekadu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Regassa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, P.O.BOX:1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Tesfaye Sisay
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Tessema
authors.affiliation: Aklillu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O.BOX:1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Tesfu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kassa
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Juri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vencato
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O.BOX: 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: David Okello
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Owiny
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Calogero
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stelletta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000662:veterinary; D002162:Camelus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction; D012621:Seasons; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology*
keywords: Dromedary camel; Imprint smear; Testicular cytology; Testicular fine needle aspiration