Serum biochemistry parameters in the Omani racing Arabian camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Blood samples were collected from thirty, 2-year old female Arabian camels from the eastern region of Oman. Camels were managed in the traditional way in the Arabian Gulf region, primarily fed fresh alfalfa and barley grain. Blood was drawn into serum vaccutainers from jugular venipuncture. Serum samples were analyzed by spectrophotometric analysis using a CX7/CX7 serum chemistry analyzer (Synchron, Beckman). Means, standard deviations and minimum and maximum values were calculated using Excel spreadsheets on Microsoft Office 2007. The SAS (2000) package was used to produce coefficient of determination (R2) between the eight serum mineral values. The following mean values Å} standard deviation were recorded: glucose: 92.8Å}19.2 mg/dL; total protein (TP): 6.17 Å} 0.34 g/dL; albumin: 32.21 Å} 9.933 mg/dL; blood urea nitrogen (BUN): 15.48 Å} 4.49 mg/dL; creatinine: 1.64 Å} 0.238 mg/dL; uric acid: 0.28 Å} 0.041 mg/dL; total globulins (TG): 0.28 Å} 0.041 mg/dL; cholesterol: 40.52 Å} 13.225 mg/dL; total bilirubin: 0.34Å}0.124 mg/dL; alkaline phosphatase (ALP): 113.9Å}29.75 (IU/L); aspartate aminotransferase (AST): 88.8Å}70.03 (IU/L); alanine aminotransferase (ALT): 13.3Å}5.97 (IU/L); Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGT): 21.3Å}10.18 (IU/L); lactate dehydrogenase (LD); 419.9Å}160.38 (IU/L); Creatine kinase (CK): 46.3Å}16.2 (IU/L); sodium (Na): 144.5Å}5.80 mmol/L; potassium (K): 4.23Å}0.42 mmol/L; calcium (Ca): 9.63Å}0.43; phosphorus (P): 9.56?Å}0.76 mg/dL; iron (Fe): 107.8Å}25.54 μg/dl; copper (Cu): 72.5Å}8.08 μg/dl; chlorine (Cl): 113.0Å}4.52 mmol/L. Findings of the current study provide baseline values that may be used by clinicians for racing camels in Oman. There were some significant correlations especially between macro minerals (Na, Ca, K, and P) that may be used to estimate their values with less cost by reducing the number of elements to be analyzed.