BACKGROUND: Information regarding serum biochemical
profile can reflect cardiovascular performance in animals.
Although studies have evaluated the inter-relationship among
cardiovascular biomarkers in animals and human beings, there
are no reports of such a probable relationship in camelids.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to provide data
on the correlations among cardiovascular biomarkers in
different ages of clinically healthy male dromedary camels to
provide a basis for assessing cardiac muscle healthiness in this
species. METHODS: Thirty clinically healthy dromedary camels
(Camelus dromedarius) were selected and divided into four age
groups including 1-3 (n=7), 4-6 (n=7), 7-9 (n=8), and above 10
(n=8) years old. Blood samples were collected and sera were
separated. Serum concentrations of homocysteine (Hcy),
cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase-myocardial specific
isoenzymes (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
were evaluated. RESULTS: The results of the present study
showed that there were significant correlations among cTnI and
CK-MB (r=-0.853; p=0.015) and Hcy (r=0.916; p=0.004) in the
4 to 6-years-old group of clinically healthy male dromedary
camels. LDH was significantly correlated with CK-MB in the 7
to 9-year-old group (r=-0.710; p=0.045). There were no
significant correlations among different factors of 1-3 and above
10-year-old groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:The data provided
here is the first report on cardiac health assessment parameters in
dromedary camels. Moreover, the data is valuable in camel
racing clubs, when an overall cardiac health and fitness is to be
assessed. The correlation reported here might also be helpful for
easier analysis of cardiac health status in dromedary camels. The
data may be useful for assessing suspected cases of myocardial
diseases and its changes maybe of prognostic value.