Abattoir survey for genital abnormalities of female camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract

Camels are pseudo ruminants that have low reproductive efficiency which is a constraint to their productivity. This study was designed to survey the genital abnormalities encountered in female camels slaughtered at the Sokoto modern abattoir, Nigeria. The genitalia of 242 female camels were examined from the ovaries to the vulva for abnormalities. A detection rate of 4 (1.65 %) genital abnormalities in female camels was observed in this study. The abnormalities were follicular cyst 2 (0.83 %), uterine nodule 1 (0.41 %) and cervical agenesis 1 (0.41 %). Histologically, the uterine nodule was diagnosed as fibrosarcoma, while in the camel with cervical agenesis, an opening on the uterus suggests a failure of the paramesonephric ducts to fully form the cervix. The study revealed a low occurrence rate of genital abnormalities in female camels slaughtered at the Sokoto modern abattoir. However, the abnormalities seen are capable of causing infertility that will reduce overall camel productivity.