EFFECT OF SEASON ON SOME HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF THE ONE-HUMPED CAMEL (Camelus dromedariues)

Abstract

The effects of seasonal changes in the thermal environment on some
haematological values of 100 camels have been investigated during dry
summer, wet summer and winter for two years in United Arab Emirates.
There were marked seasonal changes in ambient temperature and relative
humidity. The count of the RBCs of the camel ranged from 3.7 to 9.1x 106
/ml, Hb percentage ranged from 4.1 to 11.9 %, packed cell volume (PCV)
ranged from 12 % to 28 % and total WBCs count ranged from 5.5 to 15.9 x10
3
/ml depending on the season. The results indicated noticeable changes in
most of the parameters investigated. The seasonal variation in RBCs count,
PCV, Hb concentration and WBCs count were significant and the highest
mean values of these parameters were obtained during winter. The
histological structures of the blood cells were also studied. The shape of the
RBCs was oval and non- nucleated. The WBCs are classified into two types,
granulocytes and agranulocytes, based on the presence or absence of specific
cytoplasmic granules. The three types of granulocytes (neutrophils,
eosinophils and basophils) are named according to the staining reaction of
their specific granules. The two types of agranulocytes (monocytes and
lymphocytes) are devoid of specific cytoplasmic granules