Elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in the last trimester of pregnancy of dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius)

BACKGROUND: The knowledge of blood parameters is importantfor assessing the physiological status and health ofanimals. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to determinethe effect of heavy pregnancy on some serum indices of dromedarycamels. METHODS: Twenty clinically healthy femaledromedary camels aged between 4-5 years were divided intotwo equal groups: I: pregnant camels in their last trimester;and II: non-pregnant age-matched controls. The concentrationof glucose, calcium, phosphorus, albumin, total protein, uricacid, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and the activityof aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase(ALT), and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), wasmeasured. RESULTS: The results of this study show that theconcentrations of glucose, calcium and phosphorus remainedunchanged in pregnant camels compared to non-pregnant ones.The concentrations of serum BUN and creatinine in pregnantcamels were higher, and these aforementioned differences weresignificant (p=0. 02 and 0.003 respectively). GGT activity waslower in pregnant than in non-pregnant camels (p=0. 04). CONCLUSIONS:The increase in BUN and creatinine levels might bepart of the homeorhetic mechanisms for adaptation of camelsduring heavy pregnancy. The high urea-recycling rate in camelsmay transfer urea to the gastrointestinal tract as a source of non-protein nitrogen instead of being excreted as urine. Thereduction of GGT as at the time of heavy pregnancy, may beattributed to its conversion to glutathione, as an antioxidant.