Histopathologic and histomorphometric evaluation of Dipetalonema evansi infection in camel testicular tissue

Camels are important sources of milk, meat, wool and leather, and are widely used in transportation in arid and semi-arid areas. But their illnesses, especially parasitic diseases, have not been taken into consideration. The Dipetalonema evansi microfilariae are in the blood. Adult nematode is only dedicated to camels and disrupts spermatic arteries, lung arteries, right atrium, and testicles. This study was carried out on testicular samples of camels infected with D. evansi referred from slaughterhouse. In each of the control and contaminated groups, 5 samples were examined. In this study, in addition to the qualitative description of parasite histopathologic lesions, the spermatogenesis process was evaluated quantitatively including spermatogenesis process, diameter of the seminiferous tubules and Johnsen ranking and compared with the control group. Histopathological examination of infected testis with D. evansi showed lumen obstruction of testicular blood vessels by parasites, hypertrophy of blood vessels, degenerative and necrosis changes in the tubules, decreased spermatogenetic activity, increased interstitial space tubules, destruction of the spermatogenic cells. Also, there was a significant difference in the control and contaminated groups in the parameters of spermatogenesis, diameter of the seminiferous tubules and Johnsen score.