The parotid, mandibular and lateral retropharyngeal lymph nodes of the camel (Camelus dromedarius)

The parotid, mandibular and lateral retropharyngeal lymph nodes of the dromedary camel were examined using both light and electron microscopy. All three lymph nodes were lobulated. They did not show the characteristic medulla, cortex and paracortex of typical lymph nodes. Instead, they contained lymphatic nodules, dense anodular lymphoid tissue and diffuse lymphoid tissue dispersed throughout the lymph node. Networks of sinuses were present in the diffuse lymphoid tissue. The diffuse lymphoid tissue in the periphery of all lymph nodes examined was characterized by numerous erythrocytes within and around its network of sinuses. The nodal sinuses were contiguous with the septal vessels, which are considered the possible source of erythrocytes seen in this study. The lymph nodes that were seen in this study resembled the haemolymph nodes of other mammals with regard to their content of erythrocytes but were unique in being located in sites that were typical of ordinary lymph nodes. Morphometric analysis has shown that the percentage volume densities of the stroma and the various parenchymal components were similar in the three lymph nodes.