Comparative Bacteriology of the Vagina and Uterus of Camels (Camelus dromedaries) in Sokoto, Nigeria

Infectious infertility is a major hindrance to reproductive performance in livestock. This study  was carried out to compare the bacterial profile in the vagina and uterus of camel. Swabs of the vagina and  uterus were collected from 45 camel cows with unknown reproductive history at slaughter, and analysed  for bacteria. Proteus spp. was the most common bacteria isolated from the genitalia and was more  prevalent in the vagina 21 (46.7 %) than the uterus 16 (35.6 %). The relative risk (RR) of uterine infection  with Proteus spp. was significant (RR – 4.21; p - 0.0002). There were also more isolates of Staphylococcus  epidermidis in the vagina 7 (15.6 %) than the uterus 5 (11.1 %), and the risk of uterine infection with this  bacterium was significant (RR - 6.8; p - 0.047). The isolation rate of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella  pneumoniae, and Salmonellas spp. in the uterus were higher than in the vagina, while the rate of isolation  of Enterobacter aerogenes was the same in the vagina and uterus. However, there was no risk of infection.  Escherichia coli, Edwardsiella tarda, Hafnia alve, and Shigella sonnei were found in the uterus alone.  Overall, there were more bacteria isolated from the uterus 43 (95.6%) than the vagina 39 (86.7%). The  study showed that Proteus spp. and S epidermidis were the most common bacteria in the genitalia of  camels capable of causing uterine infection