Hydrobursitis in Female Camels: A Hidden Cause of Repeat Breeding and Pregnancy Loss

A camel may have a normal-looking uterus and cervix yet still fail to conceive repeatedly. When uterine retraction is unexpectedly difficult despite no obvious uterine or cervical abnormality, the ovarian bursa deserves closer attention. 

Hydrobursitis, or ovariobursitis, is characterised by accumulation of fluid within the ovarian bursa and can interfere with normal reproductive function^[1]. The condition has been described in camel populations worldwide, with apparently greater occurrence reported in the Middle East^[1],[2],[3]. 

When should hydrobursitis move up the list?^[1],[4] 

The condition should be considered particularly when a female presents with repeat breeding, early embryonic loss or abortion. 

A particularly useful clinical clue is failure to retract the uterus during reproductive examination despite a seemingly normal uterus and cervix. In such cases, fluid accumulation around the ovary can be missed unless the ovarian bursae are specifically evaluated. 

Hydrobursitis may also occur alongside other reproductive tract disorders. Endometritis, uterine adhesions and pyometra have been reported concurrently, making it important not to assume that one identified lesion explains the entire reproductive history. 

What may be happening inside the bursa?^[1] 

The exact cause of hydrobursitis remains uncertain. Recurrent rupture of haemorrhagic follicles has been suggested as one possible mechanism in some cases. 

Bacteria have also been isolated from affected bursae. Reported organisms include Actinobacillus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species. Chlamydophila abortus/Chlamydia abortus has also been identified in several reported cases. 

However, the presence of bacteria does not establish a single infectious cause for all cases. The possible contribution of Chlamydia, Brucella, and Campylobacter requires further investigation. 

Ultrasound can reveal what palpation misses^[1] 

Transrectal or transcutaneous inguinal ultrasonography can confirm hydrobursitis by demonstrating fluid within the ovarian bursa. 

Laterality may also provide a clinical clue. Bilateral involvement has been reported more frequently in females with infertility lasting more than two years. This observation comes from the reported clinical population and should not be interpreted as a universal threshold for bilateral disease. 

The diagnosis is therefore less about identifying fluid alone and more about connecting the imaging finding with the reproductive history and examination findings. 

Treatment depends on lesion size and severity^[1] 

Treatment described for hydrobursitis varies with the extent of the lesion. For lesions smaller than 3 cm, a reported approach involved oxytetracycline at 20 mg/kg intramuscularly for seven days together with intrauterine metacresol sulfonic acid/formaldehyde solution. 

For larger lesions, surgical excision of the affected side has been reported as the treatment approach. 

Because these interventions involve antimicrobial use in a food-producing species, treatment decisions should account for antimicrobial stewardship and applicable withdrawal requirements. 

Clinical takeaway 

When a repeat-breeding camel has a normal-appearing uterus and cervix but reproductive examination remains unexpectedly difficult, do not overlook the ovarian bursa. Hydrobursitis can coexist with other reproductive disorders, and targeted ultrasonography can turn a difficult-to-explain infertility case into a defined reproductive tract diagnosis.

References:

1. Sghiri A, Ciccarelli M, Waqas MS, Anouassi A, Tibary A. Advances in the diagnosis of reproductive disorders in female camelids. Animals. 2025 Oct 4;15(19):2902. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/19/2902
2. Ali A, Derar D, Alsharari A, Alsharari A, Khalil R, Almundarij TI, Alboti Y, Al-Sobayil F. Factors affecting reproductive performance in dromedary camel herds in Saudi Arabia. Tropical animal health and production. 2018 Jun;50(5):1155-60. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ahmed-Ali-118/publication/323213137_
3. Mansour N, Karen A. Ovarian inactivity in female dromedary camels. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture. 2021 Feb 1;33(2):171-7. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/b3d3/81997fabdc7e3c23f08c41a6de4f842a6629.pdf
4. Benaissa MH, Faye B, Kaidi R. Ovarian hydrobursitis in slaughtered female camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Southeast Algeria. Emirates Journal of Food & Agriculture (EJFA). 2014 Oct 1;26(10):915. https://www.academia.edu/download/94081224/4b05cae484bc8c60edaad78dbebb5cf48efa.pdf