BACTERIOLOGICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON PULMONARY ABSCESSES IN CAMELS (Camelus dromedarius) SLAUGHTERED AT NYALA SLAUGHTERHOUSE, SOUTH DARFOUR STATE, SUDAN

Abstract

A total of 712 camels were presented for slaughter at Nyala slaughterhouse
during March 2009 to May 2010. Ninety five camels revealed presence of abscess
lesions in their lungs with a prevalence rate of 13.3%. Ninety five specimens were
collected from the lung abscesses and processed for bacterial isolation and
histopathological examination. Bacterial growth was observed in 70 (73.7%)
samples, 60 (85.7%) of them showed pure growth, while 10 (14.3%) showed mixed
growth on cultured media. Total of 82 bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus spp.
27(32.9%), Streptococcus spp. 18(21.9%), Corynebacterium spp. 10(12.2%),
Pseudomonas spp. 5(6.0%), Arcanobacterium pyogenes 4(4.9%), Proteus spp.
4(4.9%), Micrococcus spp. 3(3.8%), Pasteurella multocida 3(3.8%), Enterococcus
spp. 2(2.4%), Enterobacter aerogenes 2(2.4%), Klebsiella pneumoniae
subsp.pneumoniae 2(2.4%), Bacillus cereus 1(1.2%), Rhodococcus equi 1(1.2%). In
10 samples, more than one species were isolated from a single abscess. For example,
C. renale was isolated with S. aureus, Pseud.aeruginosa with C. pseudotuberculosis,
and Enter. aerogenes with A. pyogenes. The histopathological sections of the lung
abscesses revealed central necrotic areas, acute interstitial pneumonia, chronic
interstitial pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, oedema and emphysema. Most the lungs
abscesses contained S. aureus, Strept. pyogenes, C. pseudotuberculosis, A. pyogenes
and Pseud. aeruginosa. In addition, K. pneumoniae subsp.pneumoniae and S. aureus
were isolated from acute interstitial pneumonia and oedema while Strept. pyogenes,
Past. multocida and Pseud. aeruginosa were isolated from chronic interstitial
pneumonia and bronchopneumonia. This study showed a high incidence of
pulmonary abscesses and we recommend working to avoid this infection in order to
ensure access to safe meat for human consumption.