title: Silica urolithiasis in the dromedary camel in a subtropical climate.
abstract: In 1998, two cases of silica urolithiasis occurred in castrated male dromedaries on an intensive camel farm in the Canary Islands. The immediate attributable cause was the ingestion of large amounts of silica in the feed, estimated as 84.44 g/day. An associated cause was the low level of salt in the diet. Daily ingestion of salt from feed and water was estimated to be 21.8 g (8.6 g of sodium). Seventy-six castrated males from the same farm were divided into four groups: group A received 30 g of salt daily; group B received 40 g; group C received 60 g; and group D received no added salt in the diet (control). The animals were maintained on these dietary regimes for 2 years. No animals from groups A, B or C suffered overt urinary retention. One animal from group D had an obstructive urinary retention 10 months after the study commenced. Thus, 52 g of salt daily appears to be sufficient to prevent urinary retention in dromedaries raised in a subtropical climate.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Faculty, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. carlosg@infovia.ulpgc.es
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Corbera
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Doreste
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Padrón
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morales
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002162:Camelus / Q000652:urine; D002980:Climate; D004032:Diet; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000652:urine*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000662:veterinary*; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012822:Silicon Dioxide