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Trace minerals play an important role in animal health and productivity. They are involved also in many physiological activities, and their deficiency causes a variety of pathological problems and metabolic defects, reducing consequently the animal productivity. The demand for animal products in semi-arid areas is rapidly increasing, and the supply is still below the required level, partially due to low animal productivity. Camels (Camelus dromedarius and Camelus bactrianus) are considered one of the main sources of healthy, high-quality meat and milk for human consumption within most of the countries in the semi-arid regions. Despite their efficient adaptation to their environment, camels can suffer from the growth retardation of newborns, low feed efficiency, anemia, poor fertility, poor reproduction and many other metabolic disorders. It is well known that trace mineral deficiencies and trace mineral toxicities can influence camels’ production and reproductive efficiency, as well as many aspects of their growth and metabolism. Evaluating the trace minerals status of camels and their variability is an obvious step toward improving camels’ productivity and health. Thus, the present article reviews the data regarding the status of trace minerals (copper, zinc, iron, selenium, manganese, cobalt, iodine, fluorine, molybdenum, sulfur, bromide and nickel) in camel blood and their physiological variability, with a focus on their deficiency and toxicity effects.

The idea to use blood biochemical parameters to evaluate the health and nutritional status of one individual is an old practice in human medicine. In veterinary medicine, blood analyses have been proposed to help first the diagnosis of cattle diseases since nearly one century. But they were initially developed only in the sixties in the specialized research laboratories, in Veterinary Services and later in the veterinary cabinets. Currently, a whole set of analyses that are critical for vets' diagnostics and farmers' decision-making is proposed to the livestock and animal health actors to define metabolic, biochemical or blood profiles, Cattle is undoubtedly the more investigated species among farm animals. Data on sheep and goat are numerous, but it is already more disparate for camel. The biochemical investigations are convenient if (i) the purpose of the analyses is clear and based on a clear sampling procedure plan, (ii) the physiological variation factors are taken in account for convenient interpretation of the results, (iii) the sampling protocol is respected (for example blood sampling before feeding), (iv) the interpretation is based on a set of animals due to the between-individual variability, and on a pattern of parameters (v) the confusion between statistical difference and biological significance is avoided. Regarding the camel specificities, the followings could be listed: (i) predominance of polynuclear neutrophils in its white cell formula, (ii) maintenance of hematocrit in case of physical effort, (iii) osmolality resistance, (iv) relative hyperglycemia, (v) absence of ketone bodies, (vi) low plasma cholesterol in plasma concentration, (vii) susceptibility to hyperuremia, (viii) thermo-resistance of alkaline phosphatases, (ix) maintenance of metalloenzymes activities in case of mineral deficiency, (x) maintenance of electrolytes balance in dehydrated animals, (xi) low plasma zinc concentration in supplemented camel, (xii) higher sensitivity to selenium toxicosis, (xiii) richness of camel milk in vitamin C, (xiv) richness of plasma in vitamin D, (xv) seasonal pattern of testosterone, (xvi) decreasing insulin responsiveness with age of the young calves to induced hyperglycemia.

Slaughter stress responses were evaluated in the dromedary camel by analyzing hematocrit (Hct), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), hemolysis (H%), catalase activity (CATa) and plasma levels of cortisol (COR), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), glucose and malondialdehyde (MDA). Blood was collected during three different steps: at the arrival of the animals at the slaughterhouse just after unloading (step 1), at the end of a rest period of 16 to 20 hours (step 2) and finally during bleeding (step 3) after exposure to traditional slaughter stress. NLR, H%, MDA, glucose, COR, T3 and T4 measured at step 2 were significantly (P

This work brings together a wealth of data regarding the reference values and factors of variation in biochemical parameters used by camel veterinarians and scientists to determine these animals' nutritional and clinical status. It also explores several technical aspects involved in determining these parameters, sampling procedures, and essential elements in the interpretation of the results. Though many texts are available on small and large ruminants, much less is known about species confined to the marginal zones of tropical and Mediterranean countries, such as camels. This book addresses precisely this research gap, on the one hand by presenting an extensive review of the literature, and on the other by synthesizing the outcomes of the authors' numerous previous works. In veterinary medicine, blood tests to help diagnose diseases in cattle were first proposed nearly a century ago, but were mainly developed in the 1960s, initially at specialized research or veterinary services laboratories, and eventually, with the advent of new equipment and the miniaturization of the analyzers, finding their way into veterinarians' cabinets. Beyond their diagnostic value, veterinary surgeons and zootechnicians also speculated on the potential use of blood tests to evaluate animals' nutritional status. Thus, a whole range of analyses are now proposed to the stakeholders responsible for animal health. Such analyses could help to define a metabolic profile, which would offer a valuable decision-making tool for experts and researchers alike.

The present study aimed ta investigate the effect of nutrition on body weight gain, avaries development, blood components (total protein, alblllllen, globulin, cholesterol and glucose) and hormone level (estradiol and progesterone) in pre-pubertal she-camels. Fourteen dromedary she-camels (Camelus dromedarius) were divided in two groups CA and B) similar body weight and age ai the siart of the experiment (200 kg and 12 month, respectively). Group A received diet with 13% Crude Protein (CP) and 2.9 Meal Metabolisable Energy (ME). Group B received the traditional diet of the fann. Both diets contained 25:75 forage:concentrate. Individual feed intake was calculated after 14 days of adaptation period. Feed offered and arts was recorded daily during the whole experimental period of 12 months. Blood samples were taken from each group every 15 days throughout the experimental period. Estradiol, progesterone concentrations were measured using ELISA kits. Body weight and average daily gain for the Ist 6 months did not show significant differences between treatments. On the contrary for the last 6 months, treatment A significantly increased body weight and daily weight gain when compared to B (70.07±8.17 kg and 0.389±0.05 kg day-' vs. 37.86±8.17 kg and 0.210±O.05 kg day-l, respectively. Group A was more efficient converting feed to body weight comparing with group B. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) for the whole period was 11.25 and 13.74 for Group A and B, respectively. Group B had greater ovary size than Group A but the difference was not significant. Size of right ovary was smaller than the left one and season had positive effects on both right and left ovary sizes. Greater ovary sizes were observed in Winter and Spring comparing with Swnmer and Autumn. Group A had higher blood estradiollevel comparing with Group B while there was no difference between groups in progesterone levels. Il was concluded that feeding regirne did not affect body weight, daily body weight gain and blood progesterone levels but improved feed conversion ratio and blood estrogen levels. (Resume d'auteur)

International audience; The welfare conditions of domestic animals during transport to the slaughterhouse are largely known able to influence the level of their stress, physiology and meat quality. Furthermore, the reaction of animals to stressors depends on the duration and intensity of these stressors. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of transport distance on some blood physiological indicators of stress and biomarkers of oxidant stress in camels. Transport distances were categorized as short (72-80km), medium (160-170km) and long (350-360km) distance. Haematocrit, haemolysis, cortisol, glucose, lactate, malondialdehyde and catalase increased gradually and significantly (P

The date production in arid countries like Saudi Arabia includes a part of discarded dates for human consumption. These discarded dates could be used as supplementary feeding for livestock. In trials carried out in a camel farm, date blocks were prepared which composed of 50% dates, 40% wheat bran, 5% urea to increase nitrogen level and 5% cement as binding material. Two groups of 7 camels each 2-3 y old received basal diet composed of alfalfa (2kg/100kg LW) and 1 kg of supplementary feed, i.e. market concentrated for control group and date blocks for treated group. The duration of the trial was 4 months. Blood sampling was done every fortnight for determining urea, glucose, AST and ALT and the growth of camels was monitored by regular weighing at sampling time. Weighing and blood sampling were done in the morning before feed distribution. The intake was 1.94 ± 0.19 and 1.85 ± 0.19 kg/100kg LW in control and treated group respectively, and the mean daily weight gain was 407 and 305g/day, respectively, corresponding to a weight gain of 0.43 kg in control group vs 0.32 kg in treated group, i.e. a consumption index of 2.33 and 3.11 kg concentrates/kg weight gain, respectively. There was no significant difference in the blood parameters. In conclusion, date blocks could be safely used for supplementary feeding of young camels as partial substitution for the regular feed.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of nutrition on body weight gain, ovarian development, blood components (total protein, albumen, globulin, cholesterol, glucose) and hormone (estradiol, progesterone, FSH, LH, GnRH and Leptin) levels in peri-pubertal female camels. Fourteen dromedary females (Camelus dromedarius) were divided into two groups (A and B) with respective average body weight and age of 381 kg, 24 months and 458 kg, 24 months at the start of the experiment. Group A received a diet with 13% Crude Protein (CP) and 2.9 Mcal Metabolizable Energy (ME). Group B received the traditional diet of the farm with 12.43 CP and 2.7 ME. Both diets contained 1:3 forage:concentrate ratio. Individual feed intake was calculated after a 14 days adaptation period. Feed offered and orts were recorded daily during the entire experimental period of 24 months. Blood samples were taken from the same 5 animals in each group at 15 day intervals throughout the experimental period. Hormone concentrations were measured using specific ELISA kits. Initial body weight, final body weight and average daily gain for the two treatment groups were not significantly different. Group B had greater ovarian size than group A but the difference was also non-significant. The size of the right ovary was less than the left ovary. Season had no significant effect on ovary's size. Group A camels tended to have higher blood estradiol, leptin, GnRh and LH levels than group B. However, the differences were not significant except in the case of estradiol. Progesterone and FSH levels were also comparable in the two groups. It was concluded that the feeding regimen used in this study did not significantly affect body weight, daily weight gain and blood progesterone level while a relative, though statistically non-significant, increase was recorded in blood estrogen, Leptin, GnRH and LH levels in group A.

Eight lactating camels in intensive dairy farm were sampled for the determination of some lipid components of milk and serum. The gross composition of camel milk samples was close that was shown in literature. The main milk fatty acids (FA) were represented by long chain FA. The proportion of polyunsaturated FA was 3.4%, of monounsaturated 30.3% and of saturated was 66.4% with a ratio saturated/unsaturated FA of 1.97:1. The total cholesterol was on average 118.5 ± 13.0 mg/L, while vitamin A was 419.9 ± 80.9 IU/L, vitamin E 20.2 ± 1.05 ?g/100mL and vitamin C, 26.1 ± 3.5 mg/L. Vitamin D3 was below the detection limit. In serum, four FA were mostly present: C16:0, C18:0, C18:1 n-9 and C18:2 n-6 representing 89.1% of the whole FA. Total cholesterol was on average 130.0 ± 18.7 mg/L. According to global FA status, saturated FAs were 59.1%, monounsaturated 16.2% and polyunsaturated 24.1% with a ratio saturated/unsaturated of 1.5 only. There was no significant correlation between cholesterol content in milk and in blood samples, also between the main FA in milk and blood. Under in-door system, the camel receiving intensive diet did not change significantly the main composition of its milk and serum except low level in vitamins. (Resume d'auteur)

The effect of inoculation of selenium solution to pregnant camels was investigated to assess the impact on selenium status of the new-born and on the selenium concentration in milk. In the trial included 2 groups of 8 camels, the treated one receiving a single injection of selenium solution at the end of pregnancy. In blood, no difference was observed between control and treated group before injection. A significant difference was observed at delivery as well in dam (33.3 vs 44.7 ng/mL respectively) as in calf (28.5 vs 47.6 ng/mL respectively). In milk, the selenium was also significantly in higher concentration in treated group (93 ± 49 ng/mL) than in control one (59 ± 19 ng/mL) at the delivery time. Zinc concentration in milk was positively correlated to selenium content. The improvement of selenium status by a single injection was slight and more efficient supplementation ways could be proposed to the camel farmers.

We have previously presented evidence that most of the 24S-hydroxycholesterol present in the circulation originates from the brain and that most of the elimination of this oxysterol occurs in the liver. Plasma 24S-hydroxycholesterol levels decline by a factor of about 5 during the first decades of life. The concentration of the enzyme cholesterol 24S-hydroxylase in the brain is, however, about constant from the first year of life, and reduced enzyme levels thus cannot explain the decreasing plasma levels during infancy. In the present work we tested the hypothesis that the plasma levels of 24S-hydroxycholesterol may reflect the size of the brain relative to the capacity of the liver to eliminate the substance. It is shown here that the age-dependent changes in absolute as well as cholesterol-related plasma level of 24S-hydroxycholesterol closely follow the changes in the ratio between estimated brain weight and estimated liver volume. The size of the brain is increased only about 50% whereas the size of the liver is increased by about 6-fold after the age of 1 year. Liver volume is known to be highly correlated to body surface, and in accordance with this the absolute as well as the cholesterol-related plasma level of 24S-hydroxycholesterol was found to be highly inversely correlated to body surface in 77 healthy subjects of varying ages (r2 = 0.74). Two chondrodystrophic dwarves with normal size of the brain but with markedly reduced body area had increased levels of 24S-hydroxycholesterol when related to age but normal levels when related to body surface. It is concluded that the balance between cerebral production and hepatic metabolism is a critical determinant for plasma levels of 24S-hydroxycholesterol at different ages and that endocrinological factors are less important. The results are discussed in relation to the possibility to use 24S-hydroxycholesterol in the circulation as a marker for cholesterol homeostasis in the brain.—Bretillon, L., D. Lütjohann, L. Ståhle, T. Widhe, L. Bindl, G. Eggertsen, U. Diczfalusy, and I. Björkhem. Plasma levels of 24S-hydroxycholesterol reflect the balance between cerebral production and hepatic metabolism and are inversely related to body surface. J. Lipid Res. 2000. 41: 840–845.

In the present paper, 240 camels were sampled for the determination of trace elements and different heavy metals. The variation factors included age, sex and physiological status which were assessed for some parameters. On the average, the mineral contents were 190.3 [mu]g/100ml (iron), 60.1 [mu]g/100ml (copper), 44.0 [mu]g/100ml (strontium), 22.5 [mu]g/100ml (arsenic), 20.0 [mu]g/100ml (zinc), 19.7 [mu]g/100ml (selenium), 19.3 [mu]g/100ml (boron) and 14.6[mu]g/100ml (barium). Other minerals like aluminium (3.7 [mu]g/100ml), molybdenum (2.9 [mu]g/100ml), chromium (2.0 [mu]g/100ml), nickel (1.8 [mu]g/100ml), lead (1.5 [mu]g/100ml), manganese (0.16 [mu]g/100ml), cobalt (0.08 [mu]g/100ml) and cadmium (0.07 [mu]g/100ml) were in very small concentration.

Les concentrations moyennes de glutathion érythrocytaire chez les bovins zébus Wadara nigérians (n = 32) étaient de 43,9 ± 11,7 mg/dl de globules rouges ou 1,96 ± 0,57 mg/gHb. Les valeurs du glutathion érythrocytaire exprimées dans ces deux mesures ont montré une corrélation (r = 0,85) l'une envers l'autre. L'hématocrite et les concentrations d'hémoglobine sont corrélés (r = 0,59, 0,52) avec les valeurs du glutathion érythrocytaire. La répartition des fréquences a montré que 37,5 % et 90.6 % des valeurs étaient respectivement inférieures aux 40 et 60 mg/dl de globules rouges. La concentration moyenne de l'acide ascorbique du plasma était de 0,7 ± 0,2 mg/dl. De faibles corrélations non significatives (r = -0,01, -0,36) ont été observées entre les concentrations du glutathion érythrocytaire et de l'acide ascorbique du plasma. En conséquence, les valeurs du glutathion érythrocytaire étaient affectées de façon significative par celles de l'hématocrite et de l'hémoglobine, mais pas par celles de l'acide ascorbique du plasma.

Five non-trained camels were exercised maximally over a distance of 4 km. Blood samples were collected to measure enzyme activities before and after exercise. The maximal exercise had a significant effect on serum AST, LDH and CK activities indicating a muscle damage. However, the serum, ALT, GGT and AP activities did not vary significantly.

2 tables 3 graph. Cet article fait partie du dossier : L’augmentation de la prolificité des truies : acquis, progrès envisageables et conséquences; National audience

Les caractéristiques cellulaires des hématies sont d'abord décrites (forme, dimensions, résistance osmotique, durée de vie) puis sont envisagés les paramètres érythrocytaires (numération, hématocryte, taux d'hémoglobine et indices érythrocytaires de Wintrobe), la numération-formule leucocytaire ainsi que d'autres paramètres sanguins usuellement exploités (protéines sériques, vitesse de sédimentation...). Ces données sont comparées aux autres espèces d'animaux domestiques et font apparaître des spécifités pour certains paramètres (forme et résistance osmotique des hématies, numération-formule leucocytaire) souvent à mettre en relation avec les adaptations du dromadaire et du chameau au désert et à la déshydratation. Cependant ces différents paramètres montrent souvent une très importante variabilité entre les individus mais également entre les différents auteurs. De nombreux facteurs en sont responsables, l'étude de leurs conséquences sur les paramètres hématologiques du dromadaire fait l'objet de la seconde partie. Les principaux facteurs de variation considérés sont l'état d'hydratation de l'animal, la pathologie (infestation parasitaire), la saison, le sexe et l'âge. leur impact est plus ou moins marqué, l'état d'hydratation en particulier affecte peu les paramètres hématologiques du dromadaire comparé aux autres espèces, pathologie et saison les affectent beaucoup