Metabolites, Macro Elements and Enzymes Activity in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Sudanese Camels (Camelus dromedaries) and Cattle

Abstract

The objective of this study was to measure and compare the concentration of metabolites, some macro minerals (Ca, Mg, K, and Na), and enzymes activity (alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and aspartate amino transferase (AST) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of camel and cattle. Thirty clinically healthy male Sudanese dromedary camels and thirty Sudanese steers destined for slaughter were used in this study. Cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected into clean sterile containers immediately after slaughter, through puncture of the cerebellomedullary cistern using sterile 10 cc disposable syringes. On physical examination the CSF of the two species was clear and its viscosity was comparable to that of water. Higher mean CSF concentrations of the total proteins, albumin, urea, creatinine and glucose were observed in camel but were not statistically different between camel and cattle (p>0.05). Camel showed significant (P<0.05) higher concentration of Ca, Mg, K and Na in CSF than cattle, and their values are as follows of Ca (5.65�0.12, versus 5.48?0.19) mg/100ml, Mg (2.28�0.13, versus 1.49?0.18) mg/100ml, K (3.53�0.37, versus 3.09?011 mmol/L) and Na (121.37?3.38, versus 104.87?8.63 mmol/L). Moreover, camel registered significantly higher concentrations of AST (7.37?0.96 U/L versus 5.5?12 U/L) than cattle. No significant (P>0.05) difference was found between camel and cattle in ALT concentration (21.13?1.59 U/L) versus (20.13?2.05U/L) and in ALP (76 ?2 U/L versus 75.1?2.81). The values reported in this study can serve as a reference values for Sudanese camel and cattle