Abstract
In the present investigation, gross and microscopic lesions of the kidney as well as some haematological and serobiochemical tests were studied in 50 adult camels. Fresh samples of blood and kidney tissues were collected from camels of both sexes at the point of slaughter in Al Ahsa abattoir, eastern region of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Grossly, out of 50 camels examined, 33(66%) had kidney lesions of one type or another whereas, 17 (34%) were apparently healthy. Only 2 (4%) kidneys showed hydronephrosis with clear watery fluid and hard on palpation. Renal haemorrhages and necrosis were observed in 10 (20%) of the collected samples of kidneys. Microscopically out of the 33 camel kidneys collected with naturally occurring lesions, glomerular shrinkage and hyalinisation were observed in 10 (33%) kidneys. Proteinaceous casts, (in the urinary spaces and renal tubules), were seen in 8 (27%) kidneys. Moreover, 6 (15%) kidneys showed cortical and medullary congestion whereas, tubular cell swelling, interstitial haemorrhage and thickening of the glomerular tufts were seen in 5 (15%), 2 (6%) and 2 (6%) kidneys, respectively. In addition, significant change was observed in Total Erythrocyte Count (TEC), Haemoglobin Concentration (Hb) and Packed Cell Volume (PCV) in camels with naturally occurring kidney lesions. However, the biochemical findings in camels with kidney lesions showed higher values of serum ALT, AST, GGT and creatinine, as well as, lower values of total protein. On the other hand, no change was observed in the concentration of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in all camels. The present results indicate that the camels are exposed to nephrotoxins in the study area possibly from toxic constituents such as hazardous elements as they graze.