Serum Biochemical Values of Healthy Adult One Humped Camel (Camelus dromedarius) Introduced into a Sub-Humid Climate in Shika-Zaria, Nigeria

Eleven adult dromedaries introduced into a sub-humid climate were bled monthly for 36 months to establish mean serum biochemical reference values for the zone. Mean sodium concentration was 144.57 1.31 mmol L 1, potassium 5.03 0.42 mmol L 1 and chloride 104.06 2.05 mmol L 1. Others were bicarbonate 23.57 1.04 mmol L 1, calcium 2.39 0.05 mmol L 1 and phosphate 1.07 0.04 mmol L 1. The urea value was 4.92 0.55 mmol L 1 and that of creatinine was 85.70 8.85, while glucose had 2.62 0.18 mmol L 1, total protein 64.94- 1.55 g L 1 and albumin 33.98 0.98 g L 1. The male camels had significantly (p< 0.05) higher potassium and creatinine levels while urea, protein and albumin values were higher (p< 0.05) in the she-camels. Wet season samples had higher (p< 0.05) blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and glucose values while potassium was insignificantly (p>0.05) higher in the dry season samples.