Cytokine response and clinicopathological findings in Brucella infected camels (Camelus dromedarius)

The present study had the aim of assessing the cytokine response and selected clinicopathological findings associated with brucellosis in camels (Camelus dromedarius). 340 dromedary camels were examined for brucellosis using agglutination and Complement Fixation tests (CFT). Twenty-five camels (7.35%) were positive by both tests; 14 (4.12%) for B. abortus and 11 (3.23%) for B. melitensis. IL-1β and IL-10 interleukin levels in both B. abortus and B. melitensis infected camels showed significant elevations (P < 0.05) compared with controls. Moreover, there was significantly larger increase in IL-1β interleukins in camels infected with B. abortus compared with B. melitensis. TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-1α levels showed significant decreases (P < 0.05) in Brucella infected camels compared with non-infected ones; however, there was non-significant changes in IL-6 levels in Brucella infected camels compared with controls. Lymphopenia was recorded in infected camels but not in controls. However, normocytic normochromic anemia, hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia and hypoglycemia were recorded in the B. abortus group only. Sorbitol dehydrogenase (SD), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) showed significant increases (P < 0.05) in infected camels compared with controls, and in B. abortus infected camels compared with B. melitensis infected animals. This is the first report that describes changes in selected cytokines and various haematological and biochemical parameters associated with brucellosios in dromedary camels. Emphasis should be placed on multidisciplinary research to elucidate the immunomodulatory features of camel brucellosis.