Assessment of blood glutathione peroxidase activity in the dromedary camel

Blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels in 709 normal dromedary camels (442 females and 267 males) were assessed in the Canary Islands. All anima ls were intensively reared, and three different nutritional systems were ev aluated, depending on selenium content of the diet. Mean GSH-Px level in th e total population was 288.5 +/- 157.2 IU.g(-1) Hb. Reference ranges were e stimated and enzymatic activities below 51 IU.g(-1) Hb were considered inad equate. GSH-Px activities obtained in females (298.1 +/- 155.7 IU.g(-1) Hb) were significantly (P = 0.037) higher than in males (272.6 +/- 157.2 IU.g( -1) Hb). When age groups were compared, only males between 6 and 12 months old exhibited significantly lower mean GSH-Px (P = 0.006) than females. A h igh correlation (r = 0.88) between serum selenium concentration and blood G SH-Px activity was estimated, and the regression equation was y = 2.5101x 42.423. Selenium content of the diet above 0.1 mg.kg(-1) DM seems to suppl y adequate selenium requirements for dromedaries under intensive husbandry.