Abstract
The present study was aimed to examine the effects of high doses of Zn on selected haematological and biochemical parameters in dromedary camel. A total of 6 camels (400 +/- 5 kg BW; 4-7 years old) were used in the current experiment. Camels were assigned to 3 equal groups. Camels of the first group received basal diet and served as a control group. Camels of the second and third groups were fed zinc oxide at a dose 2.5 and 5g/camel/day, respectively for 6 weeks. Two blood samples were drawn from the jugular vein of each animal of all group at the time of clinical examination, one on EDTA and the other in plain tubes for serum harvesting. The whole blood sample was used for estimation of haematological parameters and harvested sera were used for determination of biochemical parameters. The present findings indicated that both examined zinc dose were safe to the camels as reflected on unchanged liver and kidney functions. In addition, all examined haematological and biochemical parameters remained unchanged in camels fed both high zinc doses when compared the control. It was concluded that camels are not like other animals as high zinc doses were non toxic to them at the level of peripheral metabolism.