# Doppler Waveform Alterations of the Supratesticular Artery and Associated Semen Biomarkers in Infertile Male Dromedary Camels

## TL;DR

This study explores combining ultrasound and semen biomarkers to better diagnose male infertility in dromedary camels, a major issue for breeders in arid regions.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel diagnostic approach combining Doppler ultrasound and semen biomarkers for male camel infertility.

## Key findings

- Infertile camels showed reduced testicular blood flow and lower levels of four fertility-related proteins compared to fertile controls.
- ECM1 was identified as a significant predictor of infertility in male camels.
- Higher sperm motility in infertile camels correlated with increased concentrations of SEM I and SEM II.

## Abstract

Male infertility in dromedary camels is a significant problem for breeders in arid regions, but current diagnostic methods are limited. This study investigated whether combining two advanced techniques—ultrasound measurement of testicular blood flow and analysis of specific protein biomarkers in semen—could improve the diagnosis of infertility in male camels. We examined 68 infertile camels and 9 fertile controls, measuring blood flow in the testicular arteries and levels of four fertility-related proteins in semen. Infertile camels showed reduced blood flow to the testes and lower levels of all four proteins compared with fertile animals. The protein ECM1 was particularly useful in identifying infertile animals. Camels with better sperm motility had higher levels of certain proteins. These findings suggest that combining ultrasound with biomarker testing provides a more comprehensive approach to diagnosing male infertility in camels, potentially helping breeders identify and manage reproductive problems more effectively.

Male infertility in dromedary camels lacks objective diagnostic tools. This study evaluated the combined diagnostic value of testicular Doppler ultrasonography and semen biomarkers in 68 infertile (azoospermic, n = 21; oligozoospemic, n = 47) and 9 fertile male camels. All animals underwent a breeding soundness evaluation; computer-assisted semen analysis; color Doppler of the supratesticular artery; and a seminal plasma assessment for semenogelin I (SEM I), semenogelin II (SEM II), extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1), and testis-expressed protein 101 (TEX101). Infertile camels showed significantly impaired semen quality (p < 0.001). All four biomarkers were significantly lower in the infertile groups than controls (p = 0.001). Doppler indices indicated impaired testicular perfusion, with higher resistive and pulsatility indices (p = 0.003; p = 0.009) and lower velocity parameters (p < 0.001) in infertile animals. Biomarkers were strongly intercorrelated and negatively correlated with Doppler indices. ECM1 was the only significant predictor of infertility from the regression analysis (p = 0.031). Among the oligozoospemic camels stratified by motility, the >50% motility group had significantly higher SEM I and SEM II concentrations (p < 0.002). Integrating Doppler ultrasonography with biomarker profiling provides complementary diagnostic indicators for male camel infertility.