Evaluation of the microbial quality of fresh ejaculates of camel (Camelus dromedarius) semen

A series of five factorial arranged experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of different management during semen collection on the microbial quality (bacterial load, type of microbes and frequency of isolation) of dromedaries’ semen. Microbial analysis of seventy-nine fresh ejaculates from twenty-two camels showed the presence of nine variant colonies. The most prevalent organisms in the dromedary semen were species of Staphylococcus, Bacillus and Streptococcus. One yeast species was represented among the isolates. The middle aged camels (9–13 years) had significantly (P > 0.05) higher mean bacterial loads than young (4–8 years) and old aged (14–18 years) animals. The mean bacterial populations of ejaculates collected by an electro-ejaculator were significantly (P > 0.05) higher than those collected by an artificial vagina. Candida spp. was identified in 53.8% of the samples collected by an electro-ejaculator and was not detected in ejaculates collected by an artificial vagina. The mean semen bacterial load detected during the breeding season was significantly (P < 0.01) higher than that collected during the non-breeding season. No fungi were isolated from semen samples collected in the non-breeding season. The difference between the mean semen bacterial loads in the first and the second ejaculate was highly significant (P < 0.01). The preputial wash significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the bacterial load. This study revealed that the microbial contamination of dromedaries’ semen is found in different intensities during different management procedures of semen collection.