Influence of pulmonary lesions on some haemotological parameters of camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Northwestern Nigeria

Blood samples from external jugular vein of camels presented for slaughter at randomly selected slaughter houses in northwestern Nigeria were collected. This is to determine some haematological baseline data and to investigate the influence of pulmonary lesions on the blood parameters studied. Accordingly blood samples from 500 camels presented were collected and examined. Three hundred and twenty (320) camels sampled and examined showed one or more gross and microscopic pulmonary lesion(s) which include: acute pneumonia 232(46.4%), hydatid cyst 14(9.2%), pulmonary haemorrhage 3(0.6%), pulmonary abscess 13(2.6%) focal emphysema (12(2.4%) and pulmonary atelectasis 46(9.2%). while 180 camels sampled showed no detectable pulmonary lesion. There were relative increases in the PCV (p=0.422), RBC (p=0.411) and haemoglobin concentration (p=0.321) in camels with pulmonary lesions when compared to the values from camels with normal lungs. However, the differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). The total WBC was significantly increased (p=0.011) in the camels that had lung lesions. Nevertheless, the differential white blood cell counts shows no statistical difference between the groups, except on the eosinophils count which were significantly higher (p=0.015) in camels with lung lesions. The calculated erythrocytes indices showed significantly higher MCH (p=0.02) and MCHC (p=0.048) in the camels with lung lesions (p<0.05), although the MCV was not significantly different between the groups. The total plasma protein was not significantly different between the groups (p=0.194). It was concluded that pneumonia or other lung lesions may have influence of the blood parameters observed in this environment.Keywords: Camel, Haematology, Lung lesion, Northwestern Nigeria.