Hussen Jamal, Althagafi Hind
Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Front Vet Sci. 2025 Mar 25;12:1570564. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1570564. eCollection 2025.
The present study evaluated serum cortisol levels as a stress indicator in camels and analyzed the influence of some physiological and pathological factors on cortisol levels and their relationship with immunological parameters. A total number of 169 camels () were grouped in a healthy group ( = 106 camels), a slaughterhouse group ( = 20 camels), a Surra-affected group ( = 27 camels), and a metritis-affected group ( = 16 camels). Female camels exhibited higher cortisol levels compared to males, with non-pregnant and lactating she-camels showing elevated levels relative to their pregnant and non-lactating counterparts. No significant differences in cortisol levels were observed among camel breeds (Majaheem, Magateer, Sawahli, and Omani). Elevated cortisol levels were observed in stressed camels (pre-slaughter) and diseased camels, including those with Surra and bacterial metritis, confirming the reliability of cortisol as a stress marker in this species. Increased cortisol levels were associated with leukocytosis, neutrophilia, and a higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. Phenotypically, elevated cortisol level was associated with an expanded CD4 T-cell population, reduced γδ T cells percentage, decreased CD172a expression on neutrophils and monocytes, reduced CD14 and CD163 expression on monocytes, and enhanced CD45 and MHC I expression on lymphocytes. Functionally, higher cortisol levels were linked to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in blood phagocytes. These findings highlight the modulatory effects of cortisol on the camel immune system and emphasize the importance of considering gender and reproductive status when evaluating stress in camels.
本研究评估了血清皮质醇水平作为骆驼应激指标的情况，并分析了一些生理和病理因素对皮质醇水平的影响及其与免疫参数的关系。总共169头骆驼被分为健康组（n = 106头骆驼）、屠宰场组（n = 20头骆驼）、感染苏拉病组（n = 27头骆驼）和患子宫炎组（n = 16头骆驼）。雌性骆驼的皮质醇水平高于雄性，未怀孕和正在哺乳的母骆驼相对于怀孕和非哺乳的母骆驼皮质醇水平升高。在不同骆驼品种（马贾希姆、马加蒂尔、萨瓦利和阿曼）之间未观察到皮质醇水平的显著差异。在应激骆驼（屠宰前）和患病骆驼（包括感染苏拉病和细菌性子宫炎的骆驼）中观察到皮质醇水平升高，证实了皮质醇作为该物种应激标志物的可靠性。皮质醇水平升高与白细胞增多、中性粒细胞增多以及更高的中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比例相关。在表型上，皮质醇水平升高与CD4 T细胞群体扩大、γδ T细胞百分比降低、中性粒细胞和单核细胞上CD172a表达降低、单核细胞上CD14和CD163表达降低以及淋巴细胞上CD45和MHC I表达增强有关。在功能上，较高的皮质醇水平与血液吞噬细胞中活性氧（ROS）产生增加有关。这些发现突出了皮质醇对骆驼免疫系统的调节作用，并强调在评估骆驼应激时考虑性别和生殖状态的重要性。
