Elucidation of the Determinant Factors Affecting Camels’ Health in Some Regions of Saudi Arabia: A Biochemical,

Abstract. Recent reports announced by the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture indicate the death of more than 3,000 camels, cows and goats in different parts of the Kingdom over the past months. Laboratories examinations both inside and outside Saudi Arabia suggested that the samples contained poisonous and toxic materials to camels which may affect the physiological processes that may render animals vulnerable to pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. So, we aimed to investigate blood and plasma chemistry including analysis of oxidants and antioxidants parameters as well as heavy metal determination in blood and tissue samples from diseased animals and compare it to normal animals to elucidate the possible cause(s) of the intoxication. Although we could not obtain any samples from diseased animals, results showed that there were non significant changes in biochemical, heavy metals and blood picture in specimens from the normal animals from Jeddah and Taif areas. However, there was a significant elevation in the level of malondialdhyde (lipid peroxidation marker) in brain, liver and serum associated with a significant decrease in total antioxidant activity in specimens from Jeddah area. This imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants as a marker of abnormal changes may lead to disturbances in some physiological processes in the brain and the liver that could render these animals susceptible to infectious diseases and ultimately to death if not treated