Camp. Biochem. Physiol. Vol. 89B, No. I, Pp. 35-37, 1988 0305~0491/88 $3.00 + 0.00 Printed in Great Britain 0 1987 Pergamon Journals Ltd A COMPREHENSIVE BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE BLOOD OF THE CAMEL (CAMELUS DROMEDARIUS) A. K. AL-ALI,* H. A. HUSAYNI* and D. M. POWER~$ *Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia TDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, U.K. (Tel.: 061-736-5843) (Received 18 February 1987) Abstract-l. The blood of twenty camels has been analyzed and the levels of eight serum enzymes determined. 2. In addition, PK and G6PD activities in the erythrocytes were assayed. 3. A number of other serum constituents were also measured, including haemoglobin, bilirubin, uric acid, phosphorus, cholesterol, total lipids and glucose. 4. Wherever possible, the values obtained were compared with data for the camel reported in the literature. 5. Where no such values existed, comparisons with other ruminants were drawn. INTRODUCTION Biochemical analysis of blood can often provide valuable information concerning health and sickness in animals. The camel is found in many areas of the world, including Saudi Arabia, and the literature contains several accounts of camel blood analysis (Agar and Suzuki, 1982; Little et al., 1970; Barakat and Abdel Fattah, 1970). However, all of the published data are restricted in some respect. For example, the report of Barakat et al. (1970) refers only to the haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and a number of other parameters: no at- tempt is made to determine enzyme concentrations. In an elegant comparative study between the camel and the buffalo, Agar and Suzuki (1982) restricted their analysis to only erythrocyte enzymes and did not report serum enzyme levels. It is well established that malfunctions of several organs, including the heart and liver, lead to fluctuations in the level of certain serum enzymes; a knowledge of zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFED normal levels is therefore valuable. The data obtained by these authors was also restricted to analysis of only six animals of each species. The major objective of this work was to determine the levels in the blood, of 10 common enzymes in a large number of healthy camels (20). In addition, the concentrations of several (7) other important non- enzymatic blood components were determined. The values obtained here are compared, where possible, with literature values. Comparisons with animals other than the camel are also made. MATERIALS zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA AND METHODS Twenty healthy camels (Camelus dromedariur) aged be- tween 2-3 years were selected at random. Blood samples were collected in heparinised tubes. JAuthor to whom correspondence should be addressed. Haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), RBC and leukocyte counts were determined using Cell dyne 7 equipment in accordance with the makers’ instructions. All enzyme assays, with the exception of pyruvate kinase (PK) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), were performed on samples of serum. For the two enzymes named above, samples of erythrocytes were used for assay purposes. All enzyme assays were carried out using Boeh- ringer assay kits, at 25°C. Blood constituents other than enzymes, were determined on serum samples using standard procedures described by Goldenberg and Femandez (1966); Robin and Saifer (1965); Trinder (1952); Bruckner (1961); Pileggi et al. (1972) and Jacobs and Henry (1962). RESULTS The haemoglobin content of camel blood was found to be 14.5 f 1.5 g/dl. The erythrocyte count was 9.09 f 0.35 x 109/ml and the white cell count was 21.1 f 8.3 x 103/ml. The activities of several enzymes in camel serum are presented in Table 1. The levels of activity of the RBC enzymes PK and G6PD were found to be 3.63 $- 1.20 I.U./g Hb and 6.5 +_1.0 I.U./g Hb respectively. The concentrations of serum constituents other than enzymes are listed in Table 2. Table 1. Enzyme activities in the serum of camels (mean f SEM) ElUyme Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase Alkaline phosphatase Isocitrate dehydrogenase Choline esterase a-Amylasc Lactate dehydrogenase Malate dehydrogenase Creatine kinase EnzyllIe activities (I.U./dl) 8.1 * 3.1 6.3 * 1.1 0.67 + 0.2 8.7 + 1.2 203 f 54 262*51 40.3 f 14 35.6 + 9 35