Acute-phase proteins: As a diagnostic tool in pneumonic dromedary Camel

Abstract

Determining the health of animals is important. So, acute-phase proteins consider as important markers of animal health. The acute-phase response is characterized by increased circulating levels of acute-phase proteins released by the liver. In addition, pneumonia is an emerging problem in dromedary camels, with no data available on the diagnostic significance of the markers of acute phase proteins in pneumonic camels. In this report, 44 pneumonic camels were diagnosed by histopathologic analysis of lung tissue from a total of 65 camels. Additionally, five healthy camels were used as control groups. Interstitial pneumonia and fibrinous bronchopneumonia were revealed by histopathology. Blood samples were collected from both groups for determination of haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen. The result revealed highly significant elevations in haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen (1.00±0.06 g/l, 13.49±0.16mg/l, and 5.47±0.47g/l respectively) in case of interstitial pneumonia, and also the result revealed highly significant elevations in haptoglobin, C-reactive protein and fibrinogen (1.04±0.05g/l, 13.64±0.21mg/l, and5.25±0.33g/l respectively) in case of fibrinous bronchopneumonia than in controls. This study concluded that haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen serve as diagnostic parameters for pneumonia in camels.

Keywords

• acute phase protein
• dromedary camels
• pneumonia