METABOLIC PROFILES AND RISKS OF DISEASES IN CAMELS IN TEMPERATE CONDITIONS

A survey of 65 female camels has been conducted over a 1-year period i n France to determine their metabolic profiles and to study the correl ations between this profile and the feeding and health status in tempe rate conditions. The following parameters were measured: protein (albu min, globulin, total protein), urea, glucose, free fatty acid, liver e nzymes (GLDH, GGT, GOT), minerals (Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn) and ceruloplasmin. The values obtained were similar to those reported in desert areas thr oughout the world, but the standard deviation was generally higher. Th is important variation might be due to the large variability of feedin g conditions: albumin (36.4 +/- 4.7 g/l), total globulin (32.7 +/- 5.1 g/l), total protein (69.2 +/- 6.1 g/l), urea (30.0 +/- 14.8 mg/100 mi ), glucose (111.0 +/- 12.2 mg/100 mi), PFA (0.15 +/- 0.15 mmol/l), GLD H (5.8 +/- 10.8 IU/I), GGT (10.1 +/- 5.8 IU/I), GOT (48.1 +/- 14.3 IU/ I), calcium (10.2 +/- 6.5 mg/100 ml), magnesium (2.6 +/- 0.3 mg/100 ml ), copper (65.4 +/- 20.2 mg/100 ml), zinc (34.6 +/- 7.8 mg/100 mi), ce ruplasmin (41.4 +/- 2.6 UO). The season, the mineral supplementation, and the health status had a significant effect on the metabolic profil e of the she-camels.