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Comparative study of thyroid hormones in camels at different physiological stages and pathological conditions and treatment trial for congenital goiter

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Abstract

Hypothyroidism and iodine deficient disorders (IDD) are global problems affecting wide range of species. The camel is sensitive to iodine. This work was conducted to monitor thyroid hormones in group of camels at different physiological and pathological status. One hundred camels randomly selected were allocated into five groups including racing, late pregnant, lactating, aborted, and young calved. Four calves with congenital goiter (CCG) along with their mothers (MCCG) were also included. The affected calves were treated with two I/V doses of sodium iodide 1 week apart. T4 was highest in healthy calves followed by racing camels, which were significantly different from the rest of groups that displayed comparable values except for MCCG. T3 was highest in normal camel calves. The rest of groups illustrated comparable T3 levels although values for racing camels were slightly higher. The CCG group appeared smaller, weaker, and less active than their normal counterparts. They displayed enlarged thyroids, sometimes accompanied with difficult breathing and snoring. These calves and dams depicted comparable but very low T4 concentration; however, T3 was low only in the affected calves. Mild normocytic normochromic anemia, leukocytosis, neutrophilia, and elevated CK and LDH were evident in the CCG group. Sodium iodide injections significantly raised the thyroid hormones, reduced the thyroid size, and alleviated the adverse clinical signs. Monitoring of thyroid gland and hormones is necessary to avoid hypothyroidism. Iodine as feed supplements or boluses are recommended in affected herd especially during pregnancy, whereas iodine injections are indorsed for critical clinical cases.

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Acknowledgements

We sincerely acknowledge the technical assistance received from the Veterinary Clinics, Bidi Zayed and Al-Ain, Department of Agriculture and Animal Resources, UAE, during treatment and follow-up of affected camel calves and camel owners for permission to use their animals.

Funding

The reagents used in this study was funded by College of Agriculture and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman (grant number IG/AGR/ANVS/10/01 for Professor MH Tageldin) in a collaborative work with some staff in UAE University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Al Ain, UAE

    Hassan Abu Damir

  2. Veterinary Laboratory, The Department of Agriculture, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Abu Dhabi, UAE

    Elhag A. Omer

  3. The Veterinary Clinic, Al-Ain, Department of Agriculture, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Abu Dhabi, UAE

    B. A. Ibrahim

  4. College of Medicine, UAE University, Al Ain, UAE

    Mahmoud A. Ali & J. Yasin

  5. The Veterinary Clinic, Bidi Zayed, Department of Agriculture, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Abu Dhabi, UAE

    Osheik A. Ali

  6. Zamzam University College, Khartoum, Sudan

    Osheik A. Ali & Mohamed H. Tageldin

  7. Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

    Mohamed H. Tageldin

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  1. Hassan Abu Damir
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  2. Elhag A. Omer
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Abu Damir, H., Omer, E.A., Ibrahim, B.A. et al. Comparative study of thyroid hormones in camels at different physiological stages and pathological conditions and treatment trial for congenital goiter. Comp Clin Pathol 30, 317–325 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-021-03215-2

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