A note on the haemogram of the dromedary camel in Bahrain

Abstract

The blood picture was studied in 186 female and 115 male riding dromedary camels. Blood smears were negative for blood parasites including Trypanosoma evansi. In total, 72 % of the females and 80 % of the males had gastrointestinal parasites. Infected females had significantly lower RBC, Hb and PCV values but higher eosinophil counts than non-infected ones. For the non-infected females and males, respectively the values were: Hb 11. 4 ± 1.8, 11. 0 ± 1.0g/dl; PCV 0.295 ± 0.033, 0.287 ± 0.043 1/1; RBC 9.01 ± 1.21, 8.26 ± 1.62 x 10¹²/1; MCV 32.8 ± 3.7, 34.8 ± 5.1 fl; MCH 13.0 ± 2.1, 13.3 ± 1.3 pg; MCHC 38.7 ± 6.2, 38.3 ± 3.6 g/dl; WBC 14.09 ± 4.03, 10.24 ± 2.01 x 10⁹/µl; neutrophils 6.46 ± 1.64, 4.67 ± 1.23 x10⁹/l; lymphocytes 6.78 ± 1.27, 4.74 ± 1.19 x 10⁹/l; eosinophils 0.56 ± 0.49, 0.56 ± 0.44 x 10⁹/l; monocytes 0.27 ± 0.14, 0.26 ± 0.09 x 10⁹/l. The average corresponding values for infected animals were: Hb 10.01 ± 1.35, 11.55 ± 1.21 g/dl; PCV 0.261 ± 0.033, 0.304 ± 0.041 1/1; RBC 7.52 ± 1.79, 8.40 ± 1.54 x 10¹²/l; MCV 34.6 ± 4.3, 36.0 ± 4.9 fl; MCH 13.3 ± 1.8, 13.8 ± 1.4 pg; MCHC 38.3 ± 5.2, 38.2 ± 4.0 g/dl; WBC 10.50 ± 2.47, 955 ± 1.88 x 10⁹/l; neutrophils 5.18 ±1.41, 4.51 ± 0.99 x10⁹/l; lymphocytes 4.37 ± 1.37, 4.12 ± 1.08 x 10⁹/l; eosinophils 0.69 ± 0.41, 0.61 ± 0.43 x 10⁹/l; monocytes 0.28 ± 0.17, 0.29 ± 0.14 x 10⁹/l. The results are discussed and compared with previous findings in other countries.