Haematology, Biochemistry and Blood Gas Analysis in Healthy Female Dromedary Camels, Their Calves and Umbilical Cord Blood at Spontaneous Parturition

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the haematological, biochemical, acid-base and blood gas parameters in 12 healthy pregnant dromedary camels, their calves and umbilical vein blood at spontaneous parturition. At parturition, blood samples were collected from each camel, their calves and umbilical cord. A complete blood count (CBC) and serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and glucose were measured. The serum activity of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were also measured. None of the female camels showed any evidence of clinical disease at parturition. In calves, total white blood cells (WBCs) count was significantly higher than in dam or cord blood, but total WBCs count did not change significantly between mother and cord blood. Neutrophil count was significantly higher in calf blood than in dam and cord blood, but did not differ significantly between dam and cord blood. The RBCs count, haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit per cent were significantly higher in calf compared to dam and cord blood. The serum activity of AST was significantly higher in dam than in calf and cord blood. On the contrary, the serum activity of GGT was significantly lower in dam than calf and cord blood. The serum concentration of cTnI was significantly higher in calf than dam and cord blood The blood pH was significantly lower in calf than in dam and cord blood and it was significantly higher in cord than in dam blood. On the contrary, PCO2 was significantly higher in calf than in dam and cord blood, but no significant difference was found between cord and dam PCO2. The serum concentration of blood HCO3− and base excess (BE) value were significantly lower in dam than calf and cord blood. This study showed reference values for normal haemato-biochemical and blood gas parameters in dam, calf and cord blood during spontaneous parturition.