Efficacy of vaginal electrical resistance (VER) measurement for evaluation of follicular activity in Camelus dromedarius

Abstract

VER was studied in female dromedary camels (n=14) concomitant to ultrasound examination at 2 days intervals to evaluate vaginal electrical resistance (VER) as an indicator of follicular activity and pregnancy. VER was recorded using a commercially available resistance probe and scanner was used for ultrasound examination. Females were mated with virile stud camels and the diameter of the follicle at the time of mating recorded. VER and ultrasound examinations were continued till day 30 after mating. Follicles of different diameters were recorded but the follicular growth wave was difficult to define. The growth of follicles in non-mated camels continued with follicles reaching up to 3.72 cm diameter. Ovulations did occur in the mated females even when the size of follicle was 0.8 cm at mating, however, only 50% of the matings resulted into ovulation when the follicle size was <1.0 cm. The use of heat detector for measurement of vaginal electrical resistance in dromedary camel did not give significantly different values, when there was no follicle, follicles with diameter < 0.5 cm, follicle with 0.8 to 0.99 cm, follicle ≥1.0 cm, corpus luteum and pregnant uterus.