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emerging viral diseases in dromedary camels in the southern morocco*during the last fifteen years, new viral diseases such bluetongue (bt), west nile (wn), african horse sickness (ahs), epizootic hemorrhagic disease (ehd) and peste des petits ruminants (ppr) have extended their geographic distribution and emerged in north africa and in europe. camel (camelus dromedarius) is considered as a potential vector in the transmission of some of these diseases while it is host-specific for camelpox (cp). a serological survey was conducted on 1392 sera to estimate changes ...201222222004
increased pouch sizes and resulting changes in the amounts of nicotine and tobacco-specific n-nitrosamines in single pouches of camel snus and marlboro snus.introduction: initial analyses of the novel smokeless tobacco products camel snus and marlboro snus demonstrated that these products contain relatively low amounts of nicotine and the carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines n'-nitrosonornicotine (nnn) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (nnk), as compared with traditional smokeless products. it is unknown whether the modifications in packaging, flavors, and pouch sizes that occurred for both camel snus and marlboro snus since t ...201222259150
Cloning and polymorphism analysis of prion protein gene in domestic bactrian camel in China.Up to now, little is known about the prion protein gene (PRNP) of domestic bactrian camels, and no polymorphisms of the bactrian camel PRNP have been analyzed or reported. In this study, we cloned and analyzed the PRNP sequences of 89 domestic bactrian camels. The results showed that the amino acid sequence of bactrian camel PrP starts with the consensus sequence MVKSH, with almost identical amino acid sequence to the PrP of dromedary camels. A four octapeptide PHGGGWGQ repeat region follows a n ...201222019430
cellulolytic bacteria in the foregut of the dromedary camel (camelus dromedarius).foregut digesta from five feral dromedary camels were inoculated into three different enrichment media: cotton thread, filter paper, and neutral detergent fiber. a total of 283 16s rrna gene sequences were assigned to 33 operational taxonomic units by using 99% species-level identity. libshuff revealed significant differences in the community composition across all three libraries.201223042173
antibodies in sera from camels (camelus dromedarius) in western and sothren regions of central province, saudi arabia.the study evaluated the seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii in domestic camels in western and southern regions of central province of saudi arabia. in total, 713 serum samples from clinically healthy camels were analyzed for anti-t. gondii antibodies using the latex agglutination test (lat). antibodies to t. gondii were found in 94 (13.1%) camels. the number of seropositive in al-quwayiyah region (16.9%) was considerably higher than in other regions. however, the differences in seroprevalence be ...201223469639
ultrasonography of the liver and kidneys of healthy camels (camelus dromedarius).this study describes the ultrasonography of the liver and kidneys of healthy camels (camelus dromedarius). images of the liver were obtained from the 11th to 5th intercostal spaces (icss). the distance between the dorsal liver margin and the midline of the back was shortest (39.1 ± 7.4 cm) at the 11th ics and increased cranially to 5th ics. the size of the liver was largest at the 9th ics and smallest at the 5th ics. in 6 camels the right kidney was visualized from the 10th and 11th icss and upp ...201223729824
foot and mouth disease and similar virus infections in camelids: a review.foot and mouth disease (fmd) remains the most important animal disease. the fmd virus is highly contagious and occurs almost exclusively among cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, bactrian camels and swine. old world camels (owcs) and new world camels (nwcs) inhabit fmd-endemic countries in south america, north and east africa, and the middle and far east. results of experimental infection of owcs with the virus, and several clinical observations from the field over a century, con ...201223520744
in vitro antibacterial effects of five volatile oil extracts against intramacrophage brucella abortus 544.brucellaabortus is a gram-negative facultative intracellular bacterium that can cause a highly contagious disease in sheep, goats, cattle and one-humped camels. it is responsible for one of the most important zoonosis in human. the aim of this study was to evaluate the role of mentha piperita, origanum majorana, citrus lemon, cinnamomum verum and myristica fragrans essential volatile oil extracts on human macrophages infected by b. abortus 544.201223115441
Morphometric differentiation between camel and sheep strains of Echinococcus granulosus using computer image analysis system (CIAS).To find importance of morphometric criterion of larval rostellar hook of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) and the easy and reliable method for distinguish sheep and camel strains in epidemiologic studies.201222182645
Identification of meat species by PCR-RFLP of the mitochondrial COI gene.Meat authenticity verification is pertinent for economical, religious or public health concerns. The present study investigates the use of PCR-RFLP of a part of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene for identification of species origin of raw meat samples of cow, chicken, turkey, sheep, pig, buffalo, camel and donkey. PCR yielded a 710-bp fragment in all species. The amplicons were digested with seven restriction endonucleases (Hind II, Ava II, Rsa I, Taq I, Hpa II, Tru 1I ...201221996288
Purification and biochemical characterization of an organic-solvent-tolerant thioredoxin from dromedary pancreas.We purified to homogeneity and characterized a heat stable thioredoxin which catalyzes thiol/disulfide exchange reaction, for the first time from dromedary pancreas. The purification involved heat and acidic treatment (90 °C; pH 2.5), precipitation by ammonium sulphate and ethanol, respectively followed by sequential column chromatography reverse HPLC column, and it resulted in an apparently pure protein after a 217-fold purification with a final yield of 55% of the initial thioredoxin activity. ...201222081312
development of a nested polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of eimeria macusaniensis in camel id feces.objective-to test the ability of a nested pcr assay to detect eimeria macusaniensis at various stages of infection in alpacas. animals-4 healthy adult alpacas with no detectable e macusaniensis. procedures-alpacas were inoculated with 2 × 10(4) sporulated oocysts. serial fecal samples collected during the next 38 days were tested via sucrose flotation and pcr assay. results-oocyst passage was detected via fecal flotation in all 4 alpacas 31 to 35 days after inoculation. three had positive ...201222204283
molecular imprint of enzyme active site by camel nanobodies: rapid and efficient approach to produce abzymes with alliinase activity.screening of inhibitory ab1 antibodies is a critical step for producing catalytic antibodies in the anti-idiotypic approach. however, the incompatible surface of the active site of the enzyme and the antigen-binding site of heterotetrameric conventional antibodies become the limiting step. because camelid-derived nanobodies possess the potential to preferentially bind to the active site of enzymes due to their small size and long cdr3, we have developed a novel approach to produce antibodies wit ...201222374998
prevalence of cryptosporidium-like infection in one-humped camels (camelus dromedarius) of northwestern iran.cryptosporidium is a ubiquitous enteropathogen protozoan infection affecting livestock worldwide. the present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of cryptosporidium infection in different age groups of dromedary camels in northwestern iran from november 2009 to july 2010. a total number of 170 fecal samples were collected and examined using modified ziehl-neelsen (mzn) staining under light microscope. examination of stained fecal smears revealed that 17 camels (10%) were positive f ...201222314242
oxidative stress and trace elements in camel (camelus dromedarius) with liver cystic echinococcosis.status of certain oxidative stress indices and zinc, copper and iron concentrations in blood were estimated in camel with liver cystic echinococcosis. in comparison to healthy control, the index of serum lipid peroxidation assessed by the malondialdehyde (mda) level was significantly higher in the parasitized group. however, mean serum total antioxidant status (tas) and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (gpx) were significantly lower in the parasitized group. serum zinc concentration in camels ...201222293149
single domain antibodies: a new concept for epidermal growth factor receptor and egfrviii targeting.epidermal growth factor receptor (egfr) is one of the major molecular targets for cancer diagnosis and therapy. egfr and egfrviii, mutated form of egfr, have been identified as participating in pathogenesis of some forms of human cancers. monoclonal antibodies (mabs) targeting egfr/egfrviii have been shown to suppress the signal transduction pathways controlling tumor cell growth, proliferation, and apoptosis. until now, different types of mabs or antibody fragments against egfr family have been ...201222277093
adaptation of camelus dromedarius pars nervosa of the hypophysis to winter and summer living conditions.the aim of this work is to study the characteristics of the dromedary nervous lobe and determine how the seasons condition its organization. to this end, electron microscopy was performed and examined quantitatively on animals from winter and summer periods. the results show a higher number of cells in the nervous lobe in summer than in winter. the most abundant glial elements in winter are light pituicytes engulfing neurosecretory nerve fibers making neuroglial contact, and dark pituicytes cont ...201222763958
immunization against gnrh in the male camel (camelus dromedarius): effects on sexual behavior, testicular volume, semen characteristics and serum testosterone concentrations.the effect of immunization against gonadotrophin releasing hormone (gnrh) on sexual behavior, total scrotal size, semen characteristics and serum concentrations of testosterone, was evaluated for 24 wks in sexually mature camels (camelus dromedarius). eight bull camels were randomly divided into a treatment and control group. four male camels were immunized using 2 mg gnrh - tandem-dimer conjugated to ovalbumin, (pepscan systems, the netherlands) administered subcutaneously, 4 wks apart. control ...201222763075
effect of progesterone from induced corpus luteum on the characteristics of a dominant follicle in dromedary camels (camelus dromedarius).the present study was carried out to elucidate the effect of progesterone (p4) from the induced corpus luteum (cl) on the characteristics of the dominant follicle (df) in dromedary camels (camelus dromedarius). ovarian follicular and induced cl dynamics were monitored by transrectal ultrasonography in eight camels during the peak breeding season. the characteristics of the df were monitored daily from the day of emergence into a wave, until it appeared to lose its dominance and the df of a subse ...201222727034
fertility after ovarian follicular wave synchronization and fixed-time natural mating compared to random natural mating in dromedary camels (camelus dromedarius).the objective of the study was to compare the efficiency of two ovarian follicular wave synchronization protocols coupled with fixed-time natural mating with that of random mating in dromedary camels. dromedaries were assigned randomly to one of the three treatment groups. group 1 animals (rm; n = 46) were mated randomly. group 2 camels (1×gnrh-ftm; n = 46) were given a gnrh analog (buserelin, 20 μg/animal, i.v.; receptal, intervet, holland) at random, then were mated 14 days later. in group 3 a ...201222683027
diagnosis and surgical treatment of an intracranial cyst in an alpaca cria.a 7-day-old female alpaca was examined because of an acute onset of diffuse central neurologic deficits.201222657935
adaptive functional specialisation of architectural design and fibre type characteristics in agonist shoulder flexor muscles of the llama, lama glama.like other camelids, llamas (lama glama) have the natural ability to pace (moving ipsilateral limbs in near synchronicity). but unlike the old world camelids (bactrian and dromedary camels), they are well adapted for pacing at slower or moderate speeds in high-altitude habitats, having been described as good climbers and used as pack animals for centuries. in order to gain insight into skeletal muscle design and to ascertain its relationship with the llama's characteristic locomotor behaviour, t ...201222625659
responses to dehydration in the one-humped camel and effects of blocking the renin-angiotensin system.our objectives were to compare the levels of circulating electrolytes, hormones, and renal function during 20 days of dehydration in camels versus the level in non-dehydrated camels and to record the effect of blocking angiotensin ii at1 receptors with losartan during dehydration. dehydration induced significant increments in serum sodium, creatinine, urea, a substantial fall in body weight, and a doubling in plasma arginine vasopressin (avp) levels. plasma aldosterone, however, was unaltered co ...201222624009
studies on dentition and oral disorders of camels in maiduguri abattoir, borno state, nigeria.camelus dromedarius dental disorders were surveyed using abattoir samples from maiduguri, nigeria. a total of 313 heads, were randomly examined. the age and sex of the heads were estimated using standard methods and disorders were observed following the split of the oral commissure. heads with multiple disorders were counted once and of 313 heads, 114 (41.67 %) and 199 (58.33 %) were males and females, respectively. heads aged <5 years was 18.21 %; 5-10 years, 44.41 %; and >15 years was 37.38 %. ...201222573007
recombinant iga production: single step affinity purification using camelid ligands and product characterization.immunoglobulins of isotype a (iga) mediate a key role in mucosal immunity and are promising new immunotherapeutic candidates, but difficulties in obtaining enough material often hamper their in vivo exploration. we established recombinant chinese hamster ovary (cho) cells which stably expressed two iga1 antibodies under serum-free conditions. the two cell lines achieved significantly different specific productivities of 16 pg per cell and day and 100 times less, a common phenomenon in recombinan ...201222570865
computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging features of the temporomandibular joint in two normal camels.computed tomography (ct) and magnetic resonance (mr) image features of the temporomandibular joint (tmj) and associated structures in two mature dromedary camels were obtained with a third-generation equipment ct and a superconducting magnet rm at 1.5 tesla. images were acquired in sagittal and transverse planes. medical imaging processing with imaging software was applied to obtain postprocessing ct and mr images. relevant anatomic structures were identified and labelled. the resulting images p ...201222567308
eimeria infection in camels (camelus dromedarius) in yazd province, central iran.this study was carried out during the winter of 2008 to the summer 2010 to determine the rate of infection of eimeria spp. in dromedary camels in yazd province, iran at that period. a total of 305 faecal samples were taken per recta from live and slaughtered, apparently healthy camels 9 months to 23 years old. using saturated zinc sulfate solution floatation technique, samples were prepared and investigated microscopically to detect eimeria spp. oocysts. results revealed that the overall frequen ...201222543606
arthroscopic approach and intraarticular anatomy of the stifle in south american camelids.to describe a cranial arthroscopic approach to the stifle of south american camelids and to report our clinical experience with camelid stifle arthroscopy.201222463108
arthroscopy of the fetlock joint of the dromedary camel.to describe a technique for arthroscopy of the fetlock joint of the dromedary camel, and the problems that could occur during and after arthroscopy.201222450956
reflections: neurology and the humanities. the girl with the dromedary gait. 201222435115
epidural ketamine in the dromedary camel.to evaluate the clinical and physiological effects of epidural injection of ketamine in camels.201222420374
dental health in northern chile's atacama oases: evaluating the middle horizon (ad 500-1000) impact on local diet.as one of the few areas apt for horticulture in northern chile's arid landscape, the prehistory of the atacama oases is deeply enmeshed with that of the inter-regional networks that promoted societal development in the south central andes. during the middle horizon (ad 500-1000), local populations experienced a cultural apex associated with a substantial increase in inter-regional interaction, population density, and quantity and quality of mortuary assemblages. here, we test if this cultural pe ...201222411074
nanobodies as structural probes of protein misfolding and fibril formation.the deposition of peptides and proteins as amyloid fibrils is a common feature of nearly 50 medical -disorders affecting the brain or a variety of other organs and tissues. these disorders, which include alzheimer's disease, parkinson's disease, the prion diseases, and type ii diabetes, have an enormous impact on the public health and economy of the modern world. extensive research is therefore taking place to determine the underlying molecular mechanisms and determinants of the pathological con ...201222886275
nanobody-based chromatin immunoprecipitation.chromatin immunoprecipitation (chip), followed by microarray hybridization (chip-chip) or high-throughput sequencing (chip-seq), is becoming a widely used powerful method for the analysis of the in vivo dna-protein interactions at genomic scale.the success of chip largely depends on the quality of antibodies. although polyclonal antibodies have been successfully used for chip, their production requires regular immunization and they exhibit high aspecificity and batch to batch variability. these ...201222886272
characterization of single-domain antibodies with an engineered disulfide bond.camelidae single-domain antibodies (vhhs) represent a unique class of emerging therapeutics. similar to other recombinant antibody fragments (e.g., fabs, scfvs), vhhs are amenable to library screening and selection, but benefit from superior intrinsic biophysical properties such as high refolding efficiency, high solubility, no tendency for aggregation, resistance to proteases and chemical denaturants, and high expression, making them ideal agents for antibody-based drug design. despite these fa ...201222886266
improvement of single domain antibody stability by disulfide bond introduction.the successful medical application of single domain antibodies largely depends on their functionality. this feature is partly determined by the intrinsic stability of the single domain. therefore a lot of research has gone into the elucidation of rules to uniformly increase stability of antibodies. recently, a novel intra-domain disulfide bond was independently discovered by two research groups, after either rational design or careful investigation of the naturally occurring camelid antibody rep ...201222886265
stable expression of chimeric heavy chain antibodies in cho cells.camelid single domain antibodies fused to noncamelid fc regions, also called chimeric heavy chain antibodies (chcab), offer great potential as therapeutic and diagnostic candidates due to their relatively small size (80 kda) and intact fc. in this chapter, we describe two approaches, limiting dilution and minipools, for generating nonamplified chinese hamster ovary cell lines stably expressing chcab in suspension and serum-free cultures using a stringent antibiotic selection. neither of the prot ...201222886259
preparation of a naïve library of camelid single domain antibodies.the preparation of antibody libraries starting from lymphocytes recovered from immunized members of the camelidae enables to collect binders that underwent somatic maturation. however, the time and costs necessary to prepare a library for each new antigen may urge to look for alternatives such as those offered by large one-pot libraries. here we describe how to obtain a suitable naïve library using material from nonimmunized llamas. despite the lack of somatic maturation, the selection based on ...201222886246
introduction to heavy chain antibodies and derived nanobodies.the immune response of infected or immunized dromedaries contains a diverse repertoire of conventional and heavy chain-only antibodies, both functional in antigen binding. by definition, a heavy chain antibody is devoid of a light chain and in the case of the heavy chain antibodies in camelids the ch1 domain is also missing. consequently a camelid heavy chain antibody associates with its cognate antigen via a single domain, the variable heavy chain domain of a heavy chain antibody or vhh. an ant ...201222886243
echocardiography of the normal camel (camelus dromedaries) heart: technique and cardiac dimensions.echocardiography and intra-cardiac dimensions have not previously been reported in adult camels despite its potential application for medical purpose. the aim of this study was to describe the results of a prospective study, aiming to report normal cardiac appearance and normal chamber dimensions in adult camels (camelus dromedarius).201222862855
seminal plasma components in camelids and comparisons with other species.camelid semen is characterized by a highly viscous, low-volume ejaculate with a low concentration of spermatozoa that exhibit low progressive motility. the viscous seminal plasma is currently the major impediment to the development of assisted reproductive technologies (arts) in camelids. to advance arts such as sperm cryopreservation and artificial insemination in camelids, it is necessary to identify the cause of the viscosity and gain an understanding of the role of seminal plasma components ...201222827394
characterization of ovarian follicular dynamics in dromedary camels (camelus dromedarius).ovarian follicular dynamics was monitored by transrectal ultrasonography, for a period of 60 to 90 days, and its correlation with plasma estradiol-17β (e2) and progesterone (p4) were studied in seventeen, multiparous, non-lactating, 12 to 20-year-old dromedary camels. the average number of follicles recruited (12.77 ± 0.93) in each wave between animals varied (p < 0.001). the number of follicles recruited during different follicular waves was highly repeatable (0.95) within individual animals. t ...201222819287
generation and characterization of non-competitive furin-inhibiting nanobodies.the pc (proprotein convertase) furin cleaves a large variety of proproteins and hence plays a major role in many pathologies. therefore furin inhibition might be a good strategy for therapeutic intervention, and several furin inhibitors have been generated, although none are entirely furin-specific. to reduce potential side effects caused by cross-reactivity with other proteases, dromedary heavy-chain-derived nanobodies against catalytically active furin were developed as specific furin inhibito ...201222920187
presence, distribution and steroidogenic effect of the peptides orexin a and receptor 1 for orexins in the testis of the south american camelid alpaca (vicugna pacos).the orexins a (oxa) and b are peptides discovered in the rat hypothalamus and successively found in some peripheral organs of the mammalian body. they binds two protein g-coupled receptors defined receptor 1 (ox1r) and 2 for orexins, the first of which is highly specific for oxa while the second binds both the peptides with equal affinity. this work aimed to detect the presence of oxa and ox1r in the testis of the south american camelid alpaca (vicugna pacos) and investigate the role played by t ...201222909972
generation of single domain antibody fragments derived from camelids and generation of manifold constructs.immunizing a camelid (camels and llamas) with soluble, properly folded proteins raises an affinity-matured immune response in the unique camelid heavy-chain only antibodies (hcabs). the peripheral blood lymphocytes of the immunized animal are used to clone the antigen-binding antibody fragment from the hcabs in a phage display vector. a representative aliquot of the library of these antigen-binding fragments is used to retrieve single domain antigen-specific binders by successive rounds of panni ...201222907350
generation of diversity by somatic mutation in the camelus dromedarius t-cell receptor gamma variable domains.in jawed vertebrates the v-(d)-j rearrangement is the main mechanism generating limitless variations of antigen-specific receptors, immunoglobulins (igs), and t-cell receptors (tcrs) from few genes. once the initial diversity is established in primary lymphoid organs, further diversification occurs in igs by somatic hypermutation, a mechanism from which rearranged tcr genes were thought to be excluded. here, we report the locus organization and expression of the t-cell receptor gamma (tcrg) gene ...201222961631
disulfide linkage engineering for improving biophysical properties of human vh domains.to enhance their therapeutic potential, human antibody heavy chain variable domains (v(h)s) would benefit from increased thermostability. the highly conserved disulfide linkage that connects cys23 and cys104 residues in the core of v(h) domains is crucial to their stability and function. it has previously been shown that the introduction of a second disulfide linkage can increase the thermostability of camelid heavy-chain antibody variable domains (v(h)hs). using four model domains we demonstrat ...201222942392
regional and circadian variations of sweating rate and body surface temperature in camels (camelus dromedarius).it was the aim of this study to investigate the regional variations in surface temperature and sweating rate and to visualize body thermal windows responsible for the dissipation of excess body heat in dromedary camels. this study was conducted on five dromedary camels with mean body weight of 450 ± 20.5 kg and 2 years of age. sweating rate, skin and body surface temperature showed significant (p < 0.001) circadian variation together with the variation in ambient temperature. however, daily mean ...201222776794
surgical replacement of iatrogenically prolapsed penis in a dromedary camel.prolapse of the penis through an iatrogenic incision on the right side of the preputial base in a five year old dromedary camel was handled surgically and the organ was successfully replaced into the preputial cavity. the condition occurred as a result of draining an abscess at the base of the prepuce by a quack about eight months earlier. the reason to report this case lies in its peculiarity that although the penis remained outside the preputial cavity for about eight months exposed to the ext ...201226623303
castration of dromedary camel through prescrotal midline incision.a total of 165 camels of different ages were castrated through a small, prescrotal midline incision between january, 2010 and december, 2011. the incision was closed with one interrupted, horizontal mattress suture using usp-2 chromic catgut. in 14/165 animals (8.5%) postoperative infection (sepsis) developed, which healed in two to three weeks after open wound management. the remaining 151 animals had an uneventful recovery, but a slight edematous swelling of the scrotum was observed in 8 of th ...201226623301
rare congenital absence of tail (anury) and anus (atresia ani) in male camel (camelus dromedarius) calf.a one-day old male camel calf was presented to the al-qattara veterinary hospital with complaints of abdominal straining and lack of defecation. on examination it was found that the calf had no tail, the posterior sacral margin was blunt and the anal opening was absent. the case was diagnosed as congenital anury with atresia ani. the animal was sedated with 0.1 mg/kg of xylazine administered intramuscularly and under local infiltration with 2% lidocaine a circular incision was made at the anal a ...201226623295
ankyloglossia and its surgical correction by frenuloplasty in a she-camel calf (camelus dromedarius).a rare case of ankyloglossia in a one-humped camel and its successful surgical correction by horizontal to vertical frenuloplasty is reported. seven-month-old she-camel calf, with a history of excessive salivation and inability to chew and swallow hay, was referred to al qattara veterinary hospital. solid food was regurgitated, whereas milk and water could be swallowed. on examination; the animal could not protrude its tongue which was attached by a thin tissue band between the ventral surface o ...201226623287
use of the single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) for comparing apoptotic effect of conventional antibodies versus nanobodies.the large molecular size of antibodies is considered one major factor preventing them from becoming more efficient therapeutically. it is well established that all camelids have unique antibodies circulating in their blood called heavy-chain antibodies (hcabs). unlike antibodies from other species, these hcabs contain a single variable domain and two constant domains (ch2 and ch3). hcabs are a novel type of immunoglobulin-like, antigen binding protein with beneficial pharmacokinetic properties t ...201223960797
sonographic monitoring of early follicle growth induced by melatonin implants in camels and the subsequent fertility.the present study examined the effect of melatonin implants on follicle growth in dromedary camels two months ahead of their natural breeding season (december to march). female camels (n = 6) were treated with melatonin implants at the dose rate of 1 implant per 28 kg body weight sc. control camels (n = 6) were administered an sc placebo implant of 8 ml vitamin a. ovarian ultrasonography was performed at weekly interval upto 7 weeks. camels were mated with virile stud when a follicle (≥10 mm) wa ...201223396356
camel heavy chain antibodies against prostate-specific membrane antigen.prostate-specific membrane antigen (psma), a type ii integral membrane glycoprotein, is highly overexpressed in all forms of prostate cancer tissues. it has also been demonstrated in a wide range of neovasculature of non-prostatic solid tumors, including bladder, pancreas, lung, kidney, colorectal, and gastric cancers. given the unique expression of psma, it is considered an alluring target for antibody-based imaging and therapy of cancer. in the present study, the production and characterizatio ...201223244321
selection and characterization of recombinant dromedary antiovalbumin antibody fragments that do not cross-react with ovalbumin-related protein x: use for immunoaffinity.ovalbumin-related protein x (ovax) and ovalbumin are two very close ovalbumin-related serpins. as primary data on ovax remain recent, information about possible cross-reaction of available antiovalbumin antibodies with ovax is still missing. using labeled purified ovax and dot ligand blotting, we identified 49 recombinant dromedary antiovalbumin single domain antibody (sdab) fragments that were unable to bind ovax. discrimination between ovax and ovalbumin was confirmed for two of the correspond ...201223181906
morphological characteristics of the vallate papillae of the one-humped camel (camelus dromedarius).in this study, the morphology of the vallate papillae of camel was investigated using gross, light and scanning electron microscopy as well as immunohistochemistry. vallate papillae were arranged along an identical line on each side of the lingual torus and revealed remarkable individual differences. however, each papilla - round or flat, small or large, single or paired - was surrounded by a prominent groove and an annular pad. based on our findings, postnatal development and formation of new p ...201223137354
prevalence of cryptosporidium spp. in camels and involved people in yazd province, iran.although infection of dromedary camels with cryptosporidium spp. is rare in iran, it is considered a zoonotic threat to the keepers and herders of camels. thus we investigated the prevalence of cryptosporidium in these two hosts in yazd province, a semi-arid region in center of iran.201223133476
clinical, ultrasonographic, and pathologic findings in 70 camels (camelus dromedarius) with johne's disease.this study evaluated the use of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of johne's disease in camels (camelus dromedarius). seventy camels with confirmed johne's disease were examined by ultrasonography and subsequent necropsy; 15 healthy camels were included as controls. the most outstanding findings were visible enlargement of the mesenteric lymph nodes in 52 (74%) camels. lesions had either echogenic (26%; n = 18) or anechoic (69%; n = 48) capsule and the contents were either anechoic (21%; n = 15) ...201223115369
a preliminary microbiological assessment of process hygiene of traditional outdoor camel slaughter in sahrawi refugee camps.the aim of this study was to investigate the hygiene performance of a camel (camelus dromedarius) slaughtering process as carried out with the traditional method in the sahrawi refugee camps located in southwestern algeria. the camel slaughtering process in this region differs significantly from that carried out in commercial abattoirs. slaughtering is performed outdoors in desert areas, and dehiding of the carcass is approached via the dorsoventral route rather than the classic ventrodorsal rou ...201223043838
survey of the camel urinary proteome by shotgun proteomics using a multiple database search strategy.we report the first survey of the dromedary camel urinary proteome. proteins retained from ultrafiltration of urine were analysed by gelc-ms/ms (sds-page followed by lc-ms/ms). in the absence of a complete camel genome sequence, the number of protein identifications was maximised by searching three primary sequence databases: swiss-prot, alpaca and camel est. this search strategy enabled the identification of 1274 peptide sequences, of which 735 were found in at least two independent samples. fu ...201223001906
investigation of the osteometry of the skull of the one-humped camels. part ii: sex dimorphism and geographical variations in adults.sexual dimorphism in the skull of different species has been of importance in archaeological, forensic and anatomical studies; also, a variation in phenotypic and genetic traits across geographic space is a recurring phenomenon in biological species. this study investigated 10 adult camels from each of three geographical locations in northern nigeria, for sex- and location-based variations in the skulls. in one location, male skulls had greater absolute osteometric values but there were no signi ...201222893998
osteometry of the skull of one-humped camels. part i: immature animals.the aim of this study was to investigate osteometric indices of immature camels (2-3 years old) in nigeria. the cranial length, viscerocranial length, maximum zygomatic width, neurocranial volume, skull and facial index for females and males were 22.1 cm and 22.3 cm; 16.3 cm and 16.7 cm; 15.8 cm and 16.1 cm; 479 ml and 496 ml; 40.9 and 41.3, and 96.4 and 96.2 respectively. the mean orbital horizontal and vertical diameters of young camels were similar to each other giving a near complete circula ...201222893997
novel nsp4 genotype in a camel g10p[15] rotavirus strain.in this study a kuwaiti camel rotavirus strain, rva/camel-wt/kuw/s21/2010/g10p[15], is characterized by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. the strain had multiple genes with high nucleotide sequence similarities to ovine and bovine strains (vp2, ≤ 96%; nsp2 and nsp5, ≤ 97%, nsp3, ≤ 94%), or, to porcine strains (vp1, ≤ 89%). other genes had moderate sequence similarities (vp4, ≤ 87%; vp6, ≤ 81%; vp7, ≤ 82%) with reference strains from ruminants. the nsp4 gene shared limited sequence identity ( ...201222982644
cloning, phylogenetic analysis and 3d modeling of a putative lysosomal acid lipase from the camel, camelus dromedarius.acid lipase belongs to a family of enzymes that is mainly present in lysosomes of different organs and the stomach. it is characterized by its capacity to withstand acidic conditions while maintaining high lipolytic activity. we cloned for the first time the full coding sequence of camel's lysosomal acid lipase, clipa using rt-pcr technique (genbank accession numbers jf803951 and aeg75815, for the nucleotide and aminoacid sequences respectively). the cdna sequencing revealed an open reading fram ...201222936112
a synthetic protein g adsorbent based on the multi-component ugi reaction for the purification of mammalian immunoglobulins.numerous efforts have been devoted to develop synthetic affinity ligands mimicking natural immunoglobulin-binding proteins, such as proteins a and l, in order to overcome intrinsic drawbacks involving their high cost and acidic ph elution. however, few reports have focused on a protein g mimic. this work describes the use of the solid phase multi-component ugi reaction to generate a low cost, rationally designed, affinity ligand to mimic protein g for the purification of mammalian immunoglobulin ...201222575289
single-domain antibodies and their utility.engineered monoclonal antibody fragments have gained market attention due to their versatility and tailor-made potential and are now considered to be an important part of future immunobiotherapeutics. single-domain antibodies (sdabs), also known as nanobodies, are derived from vhhs [variable domains (v) of heavy-chain-only antibodies (hcab)] of camelid heavy-chain antibodies. these nature-made sdabs are well suited for various applications due to their favorable characteristics such as small siz ...201324510545
dipetalonema evansi infection in camels of iran's central area.totally 294 dromedary camels of different ages and both sexes slaughtered at slaughterhouses in yazd, isfahan and kerman provinces were inspected for infection with dipetalonema evansi. blood smears of all camels and carcasses of 125 of them (100 from isfahan and 25 from yazd) were studied for larva and adult forms of the parasite. microfilariae were found in peripheral blood smears of 38 out of 294 (12.92%) tested camels, while 20 out of 125 camels (13.89%) harbored d. evansi adult worms in at ...201324505989
common gastrointestinal parasites of indigenous camels (camelus dromedarius) with traditional husbandry management (free-ranging system) in central deserts of iran.gastrointestinal parasites of domesticated animals, especially in animals with traditional husbandry management cause reduction in production and performance of them. aim of our study was to determine prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in indigenous camels, with traditional husbandry management that have no direct contact with other livestock. this study was carried out between kerman and yazd provinces of iran, midsummer 2011. fecal samples of 100 randomly selected camels of all age and s ...201324431575
prevalence and distribution patterns of sarcocystis in camels (camelus dromedarius) in yazd province, iran.sarcocystis spp., are zoonotic cyst-forming coccidian parasites that cause sarcocystosis. this study was conducted to investigate the prevalence as well as distribution patterns of sarcocystis spp. infection in slaughtered one-humped camels of yazd province, iran. muscles of 130 camels were investigated for either macroscopic or microscopic sarcocysts during summer 2009. no macroscopic cyst was observed in the animals at naked eye inspection. of examined camels, 67 (51.5 %) were positive for bra ...201324431561
retroviral transduction of fluonanobody and the variable domain of camelid heavy-chain antibodies to chicken embryonic cells.single domain antibodies from camel heavy chain antibodies (vhh or nanobody), are advantages due to higher solubility, stability, high homology with human antibody, lower immunogenicity and low molecular weight. these criteria make them candidates for production of engineered antibody fragments particularly in transgenic animals.201324375066
unveiling current guanaco distribution in chile based upon niche structure of phylogeographic lineages: andean puna to subpolar forests.niche description and differentiation at broad geographic scales have been recent major topics in ecology and evolution. describing the environmental niche structure of sister taxa with known evolutionary trajectories stands out as a useful exercise in understanding niche requirements. here we model the environmental niche structure and distribution of the recently resolved phylogeography of guanaco (lama guanicoe) lineages on the western slope of the southern andes. using a maximum entropy fram ...201324265726
effects of dehydration and blockade of angiotensin ii at1 receptor on stress hormones and anti-oxidants in the one-humped camel.the objective of this study was to provide for the first time data on plasma catecholamines, cortisol, glutathione and malondialdehyde after long term dehydration (20 days) in the presence and absence of angiotensin ii (ang ii) at1 receptor blocker (losartan) versus levels in time-matched, non-dehydrated control camels and to record the responses of glutathione and malondialdehyde activity in liver and kidney homogenates in control, dehydrated-losartan treated and dehydrated camels. eighteen mal ...201324252635
l-plastin nanobodies perturb matrix degradation, podosome formation, stability and lifetime in thp-1 macrophages.podosomes are cellular structures acting as degradation 'hot-spots' in monocytic cells. they appear as dot-like structures at the ventral cell surface, enriched in f-actin and actin regulators, including gelsolin and l-plastin. gelsolin is an ubiquitous severing and capping protein, whereas l-plastin is a leukocyte-specific actin bundling protein. the presence of the capping protein capg in podosomes has not yet been investigated. we used an innovative approach to investigate the role of these p ...201324236012
stepwise engineering of heterodimeric single domain camelid vhh antibodies that passively protect mice from ricin toxin.in an effort to engineer countermeasures for the category b toxin ricin, we produced and characterized a collection of epitopic tagged, heavy chain-only antibody vh domains (vhhs) specific for the ricin enzymatic (rta) and binding (rtb) subunits. among the 20 unique ricin-specific vhhs we identified, six had toxin-neutralizing activity: five specific for rta and one specific for rtb. three neutralizing rta-specific vhhs were each linked via a short peptide spacer to the sole neutralizing anti-rt ...201324202178
contributions of the complementarity determining regions to the thermal stability of a single-domain antibody.single domain antibodies (sdabs) are the recombinantly-expressed variable domain from camelid (or shark) heavy chain only antibodies and provide rugged recognition elements. many sdabs possess excellent affinity and specificity; most refold and are able to bind antigen after thermal denaturation. the sdab a3, specific for the toxin staphylococcal enterotoxin b (seb), shows both sub-nanomolar affinity for its cognate antigen (0.14 nm) and an unusually high melting point of 85°c. understanding the ...201324143255
serum concentrations of thyroid hormones, cholesterol and triglyceride, and their correlations together in clinically healthy camels (camelus dromedarius): effects of season, sex and age.to evaluate the effects of season, sex and age on serum concentrations of thyroid hormones, cholesterol and triglyceride, and their correlations together in dromedarian camels, these parameters were measured in 180 clinically healthy dromedary camels. no significant difference was detected for the measured serum parameters between the two sexes and among the different age groups of camels and none of them had significant correlation with the age of the animals. there was a significant correlatio ...201325568678
adrenaline-activated structure of β2-adrenoceptor stabilized by an engineered nanobody.g-protein-coupled receptors (gpcrs) are integral membrane proteins that have an essential role in human physiology, yet the molecular processes through which they bind to their endogenous agonists and activate effector proteins remain poorly understood. so far, it has not been possible to capture an active-state gpcr bound to its native neurotransmitter. crystal structures of agonist-bound gpcrs have relied on the use of either exceptionally high-affinity agonists or receptor stabilization by mu ...201324056936
novel therapy based on camelid nanobodies.nanobodies (nbs) are small antibody fragments derived from camelid heavy chain antibodies through recombinant gene technology. their exceptional physicochemical properties, possibility of humanization and unique antigen recognition properties make them excellent candidates for targeted delivery of biologically active components. several different therapeutic approaches based on the novel camelid nbs have been developed to treat a wide range of diseases ranging from immune, bone, blood and neurol ...201324116915
seroepidemiology for mers coronavirus using microneutralisation and pseudoparticle virus neutralisation assays reveal a high prevalence of antibody in dromedary camels in egypt, june 2013.we describe a novel spike pseudoparticle neutralisation assay (ppnt) for seroepidemiological studies on middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (merscov) and apply this assay together with conventional microneutralisation (mn) tests to investigate 1,343 human and 625 animal sera. the sera were collected in egypt as a region adjacent to areas where mers has been described, and in hong kong, china as a control region. sera from dromedary camels had a high prevalence of antibody reactive to me ...201324079378
population dynamics of ticks infesting the one-humped camel (camelus dromedarius) in central tunisia.a tick population was monitored on 30 camels (camelus dromedarius) over one year in kairouan region, central tunisia. a total of 1630 ticks was collected and identified resulting in an estimate of different parasitological indicators. the ticks belonged to 2 genera and 5 species: hyalomma impeltatum (53%) and hyalomma dromedarii (45%) were the dominant species followed by hyalomma excavatum (1%), hyalomma marginatum (0.5%), and rhipicephalus turanicus (0.5%) (p<0.001). mean infestation prevalenc ...201323999226
generation of a phage-display library of single-domain camelid vh h antibodies directed against chlamydomonas reinhardtii antigens, and characterization of vh hs binding cell-surface antigens.single-domain antibodies (sdabs) are powerful tools for the detection, quantification, purification and subcellular localization of proteins of interest in biological research. we have generated camelid (lama pacos) heavy chain-only variable vh domain (vh h) libraries against antigens in total cell lysates from chlamydomonas reinhardtii. the sdabs in the sera from immunized animals and vh h antibody domains isolated from the library show specificity to c. reinhardtii and lack of reactivity to an ...201323980604
clotting factor viii (fviii) and thrombin generation in camel plasma: a comparative study with humans.the objective of this study was to characterize the highly elevated levels of clotting factor viii (fviii) in camel plasma. whole blood was collected from healthy camels and factor viii clotting activity (fviii:c) assays were conducted using both the clotting and the chromogenic techniques. the anticoagulant citrate phosphate dextrose adenine (cpda) produced the highest harvest of fviii:c, the level of plasma factor viii, compared to heparin:saline and heparin:cpda anticoagulants. camel fviii ca ...201324082408
nanobody-induced perturbation of lfa-1/l-plastin phosphorylation impairs mtoc docking, immune synapse formation and t cell activation.the t cell integrin receptor lfa-1 orchestrates adhesion between t cells and antigen-presenting cells (apcs), resulting in formation of a contact zone known as the immune synapse (is) which is supported by the cytoskeleton. l-plastin is a leukocyte-specific actin bundling protein that rapidly redistributes to the immune synapse following t cell-apc engagement. we used single domain antibodies (nanobodies, derived from camelid heavy-chain only antibodies) directed against functional and structura ...201323001012
development of oligoclonal nanobodies for targeting the tumor-associated glycoprotein 72 antigen.the tumor-associated glycoprotein 72 (tag-72) is a membrane mucin whose over-expression is correlated with advanced tumor stage and increased invasion and metastasis. in this study, we identified a panel of four nanobodies, single variable domains of dromedary heavy-chain antibodies that specifically recognize the tag-72 antigen. all selected nanobodies were shown to selectively bind to this cancer-related molecule with low-nanomolar affinities and do not cross-react with other antigens, such as ...201323015323
surface display of a single-domain antibody library on gram-positive bacteria.combinatorial protein engineering for selection of proteins with novel functions, such as enzymes and affinity reagents, is an important tool in biotechnology, drug discovery, and other biochemical fields. bacterial display is an emerging technology for isolation of new affinity proteins from such combinatorial libraries. cells have certain properties that are attractive for directed evolution purposes, in particular the option to use quantitative flow-cytometric cell sorting for selection of bi ...201323064703
computed tomography and cross-sectional anatomy of the normal dromedary camel tarsus (one humped camel).the purpose of this study was to provide a detailed computed tomographic (ct) anatomic reference for the dromedary camel tarsus. six cadaver pelvic limbs, obtained from three clinically and radiographically sound dromedary camels, were scanned in both soft tissue and bone windows starting from the calcaneal tuber towards the proximal metatarsus. limbs were frozen at -20°c and sectioned transversely via an electric bone saw. the ct images were evaluated and correlated with their corresponding cry ...201323050765
rumen-protected methionine supplementation and fibre production in alpacas (vicugna pacos).sulphur-containing amino acids are a crucial requirement for fibre production and may be supplemented in the diet of fibre-producing animals to stimulate fibre growth. the alpaca fibre industry is a developing industry in australia with high variability in fibre production. to date, there is no evidence whether supplementing the diet of alpacas with sulphur amino acids improves fibre production. we hypothesised that supplementation with the rumen-protected sulphur amino acid, methionine would in ...201323173603
artificial insemination in dromedary camels.artificial insemination (ai) is an important technique in all domestic species to ensure rapid genetic progress. the use of ai has been reported in camelids although insemination trials are rare. this could be because of the difficulties involved in collecting as well as handling the semen due to the gelatinous nature of the seminal plasma. in addition, as all camelids are induced ovulators, the females need to be induced to ovulate before being inseminated. this paper discusses the different me ...201323153625
use of assisted reproduction for the improvement of milk production in dairy camels (camelus dromedarius).despite their production potential and ability to survive on marginal resources in extreme conditions, dromedaries have not been exploited as an important food source. camels have not been specifically selected for milk production, and genetic improvement has been negligible. high individual variation in milk production both within the population and within breeds provides a good base for selection and genetic progress. in this paper, we discuss the possibilities and constraints of selective bre ...201323146200
lactation curves of dairy camels in an intensive system.weekly milk records of 47 she-camels in a multibreed dairy camel herd were collected for over a period of 5 years. a total of 72 lactation curves were defined, and relationships with parity, calving season, lactation length, milk production level, following lactations, and dam weight were analyzed. overall mean values were milk yield up to 12 months, 1,970 ± 790 l; lactation length, 12.5 months; persistency, 94.7 %; weekly peak yield, 50.7 l; monthly peak yield, 220 ± 90 l; and the number of wee ...201323212839
plasma leptin, glucose and non-esterified fatty acid variations in dromedary camels exposed to prolonged periods of underfeeding or dehydration.the involvement of plasma leptin in the adaptation of dromedary camels to harsh conditions such as food or water shortages was studied through 2 experiments. in experiment 1, fourteen female camels were either fed at 68% of maintenance energy requirements (mer) during 112d (n=4) or overfed at 134% of mer during the first 56d and then underfed at 17% of mer the next 56d (ov-un, n=5), or underfed and then overfed for the same durations and energy intake levels (un-ov, n=5). weekly plasma samples s ...201323747566
nanopad: an integrated platform for bacterial production of camel nanobodies aimed at detecting environmental biomarkers.the presence of given antigens in environmental samples (e.g. biodegradative enzymes) reports the quality and catalytic vigor of particular soils or aquatic ecosystems. in this context, we have developed the nanopad system consisting of a complete platform for isolation, amplification, and extracellular production of specific antibodies against antigens that diagnose the occurrence of protein markers in crude environmental samples. the workflow starts with the inoculation of camels (camelus drom ...201323661305
purification and biochemical characterization of membrane-bound neutral ceramidase from camel brain (camelus dromedarius).ceramidases cleave the n-acyl linkages of ceramide to generate sphingosine and its subsequent product sphingosine-1-phosphate (s1p). ceramide and s1p are important bioactive lipids, and ceramidases are important in regulating the availability of these lipids. in this study, we report the purification and characterization of camel brain neutral ceramidase (cbcdase). the novel cbcdase was purified from camel brain using sequential chromatography of deae-sepharose, phenyl-sepharose, superdex, and m ...201323638321
characterization of hachi (camelus dromedarius) fat extracted from the hump.in this work, the characteristics of fat from the hump of young camels (hachi) were evaluated. the physicochemical properties of the fat were as follows: melting point, 45°c; saponification value, 202.3 mg koh/g oil; refractive index (60°c), 1.468; unsaponifiable matter, 1.37%; free fatty acids (as the percentage of oleic acid), 0.96%; and peroxide value, 3.37 mequiv. o2/kg oil. high-resolution (1)h nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)h nmr) was used for the direct determination of the iodine value o ...201323561157
nanobodies raised against monomeric α-synuclein distinguish between fibrils at different maturation stages.nanobodies are single-domain fragments of camelid antibodies that are emerging as versatile tools in biotechnology. we describe here the interactions of a specific nanobody, nbsyn87, with the monomeric and fibrillar forms of α-synuclein (αsyn), a 140-residue protein whose aggregation is associated with parkinson's disease. we have characterized these interactions using a range of biophysical techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance and circular dichroism spectroscopy, isothermal titratio ...201323557833
generation of single-domain antibody multimers with three different self-associating peptides.conventional y-shaped antibodies have been widely used in research, diagnostics and therapeutics. their large size result in disadvantages in certain applications, which makes production difficult. different parts of an antibody have been used to replace the whole antibody to make it smaller. single-domain antibodies (sdabs) derived from the camelid heavy chain antibodies are among the smallest antibody fragments engineered for various applications. to improve the affinity of these single- sdabs ...201323538432
anp and bnp responses to dehydration in the one-humped camel and effects of blocking the renin-angiotensin system.the objectives of this study were to investigate and compare the responses of atrial natriuretic peptide (anp) and b-type natriuretic peptide (bnp) in the circulation of hydrated, dehydrated, and dehydrated losartan - treated camels; and to document the cardiac storage form of b-type natriuretic peptide in the camel heart. eighteen male camels were used in the study: control or hydrated camels (n = 6), dehydrated camels (n = 6) and dehydrated losartan-treated camels (n = 6) which were dehydrated ...201323516417
purification, characterization and bactericidal activities of phospholipase a₂ from the dromedary intestine.we purified a protein from the dromedary small intestine that displayed potent bactericidal activity against gram-positive bacteria, and identified it as group-iia phospholipase a₂ (drpla₂-iia) by nh₂-terminal sequencing and enzymatic measurements. in fact, our findings revealed that the purified pla₂-iia was a monomeric protein with a molecular mass of about 14 kda. pure enzyme has a specific activity of 329 ± 25 u/mg at optimal conditions (ph 9.5 and 45 °c) in the presence of 6 mm nadc and 7 m ...201323500664
entrainment of the circadian clock by daily ambient temperature cycles in the camel (camelus dromedarius).in mammals the light-dark (ld) cycle is known to be the major cue to synchronize the circadian clock. in arid and desert areas, the camel (camelus dromedarius) is exposed to extreme environmental conditions. since wide oscillations of ambient temperature (ta) are a major factor in this environment, we wondered whether cyclic ta fluctuations might contribute to synchronization of circadian rhythms. the rhythm of body temperature (tb) was selected as output of the circadian clock. after having ver ...201323485867
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