Haematological reference values of dromedary camels in northern Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the haematological reference values of a population of dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) in northern Nigeria to provide data required during laboratory investigation of health. The haematological variables were determined with EDTA anti-coagulated blood samples collected from the jugular veins of 121 camels during antemortem sessions at the abattoir in Maiduguri (Borno State). Serum total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations were estimated with serum samples harvested from clotted blood samples collected from the same animals. The haematological data were normally distributed (except monocyte and basophil counts) and values were presented as means, standard deviations, medians, minimum and maximum limits. Packed cell volume (PCV) significantly (p < 0.05) correlated (r = 0.30–0.90) with erythrocyte count (EC), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), total leukocyte counts (TLC) and absolute differential leukocyte count (DLC), but did not correlate (r = 0.01–0.17) with calculated erythrocyte indices. Stratification of the reference data based on PCV produced sub-classes of variables (EC, Hb, TLC, DLC) with significant (p < 0.05) variations. The PCV had no significant correlation with serum total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations indicating lack of haemoconcentration. The variables had broad value range and were neither influenced by sex and age nor dehydration. Lymphocytes were the most numerous in DLC with neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio of 0.23–1.15. In conclusion, the haematological reference values of dromedary camels varied widely and had positively correlated variables suggesting the possibility of partitioning the dataset into sub-groups with low and high values in order to enhance their application.