title: Effect of foodstuff contamination by aflatoxin on the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
abstract: Twenty young female adult one-humped racing camels (Camelus dromedarius) kept in camps scattered outside Al Ain city and aged between 3- and 6-years-old, died after a short clinical illness. Affected camels were dull, inappetant and pyrexic, with submandibular oedema and enlargement of submandibular lymph nodes. Of 100 camels within the camps, 31 showed clinical signs. At necropsy examination, the liver of dead animals appeared yellowish, enlarged, congested and friable. The main hepatic histological findings were centrolobular necrosis, haemorrhages and cellular vacuolation. Aflatoxins were detected in sera, liver, ruminal contents and in feed ingested by affected animals. Sera of symptomatic and recovered camels also showed increased levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminases, glutamic pyruvic transaminases, aspartate transaminases, gamma glutamyl transaminases, glucose, urea nitrogen, phosphorus and total iron. Decreased levels of albumin, calcium, cholesterol and triglycerides were also observed. It was probable that aflatoxicosis was responsible for clinical signs and subsequent death of the camels. The need for suitable and appropriate storage conditions of animal feed to prevent fungal growth and aflatoxin contamination is highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Nawal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: El-Sabban
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Khawli
authors.forename: E P K
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Mensah-Brown
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D002162:Camelus; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D015651:Mycotoxicosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D014479:United Arab Emirates; D000096702:Aflatoxin Poisoning
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins