Acute Phase Response and Oxidative Stress Parameters in Pneumonic Camel Calves (camelus Dromedarius)

Pneumonia is an emerging problem in dromedary camels, while no data concerning the diagnostic importance of acute phase proteins and oxidative stress markers in pneumonic camel calves are available. Twenty five spontaneously pneumonic camel calves were used in this study. In addition, 25 healthy camel calves were used as control group. Blood samples were collected from both groups for determination of blood picture and analysis of lipoprotein profile, fibrinogen (Fb), haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukins (IL-6, IL-1α, IL1β, IL10), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Erythrocytic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) were determined in erythrocyte haemolysate obtained immediately after sampling from anticoagulated blood. The results revealed significant elevations in total leukocytic and neutrophil counts in pneumonic camel calves compared to control values. The concentrations of Hp, SAA, Fb, IL-6, IL-1α, IL1β, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ were significantly higher (1.6±0.1 g/L, 26.4±3.23 mg/L, 5.1±1.30 g/L, 19.7±1.6 pg/mL, 17.1±3.1 pg/mL, 36.0±1.5 pg/mL, 14.3±0.5 pg/mL, 23.3±1.7 ng/ml, 29.5±2.2 pg/mL respectively) in pneumonic camel calves than in controls. The study showed a significant increase in MDA (21.36±1.12 nmol/g protein) with significantly lower levels of erythrocytic GSH, SOD and CAT (4.42±0.65 mmol/g Hb, 3.1±0.22 U/mg Hb and 10.4±1.3 U/mg Hb, respectively) in the pneumonic camel calves vs healthy controls. The present study concluded that lipid profile, APP, pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress indices could serve as diagnostic parameters for pneumonia in camel calves.