Hematobiochemical and Mineral Study of Pica in Dromedary Camels in Al-Najaf Desert - Iraq

T HIS STUDY investigates the alterations in hematological and biochemical parameters in Dromedary camels exhibiting depraved appetite, a nutritional disorder with ongoing unclear causes. An overall, 53 dromedary camels aged 1-7, were selected and divided into two groups; 33 with pica and 20 healthy ones. Results showed weight loss and health decline in camels exhibiting symptoms like eating wood, paper, and plastic. Camels in the Pica group have significantly less red blood cells, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, and hemoglobin concentration. Platelet, neutrophil, and eosinophil counts increase significantly. Pica increases BUN, creatinine, ALT, AST, and ALP. Bilirubin, total protein, albumin, and globulin were unchanged. Camels from the Pica group have lesser iron, ferritin, copper, cobalt, zinc, and phosphorus than macro- and micro -minerals. Calcium was steady. Serum iron and ferritin were positively correlated with copper, zinc, and phosphorus. Cobalt and calcium adversely linked with serum iron and ferritin. Iron and erythrograms are positively connected. This study highlights the link between iron deficiency and pica development in camels, highlighting the correlation between low serum iron concentration, ferritin levels, and persistent dietary iron insufficiency.