First isolation of West Nile virus from a dromedary camel

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The plight of camels eating plastic waste

Embargo until 23 October 2022Ecological impacts of plastic pollution are widespread, in all biomes and geographies. Here, we report the ingestion of anthropogenic waste, primarily plastic bags and rope by dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has led to a regional mortality rate of 1%. We define the ingested waste as a polybezoar, a collection of tightly packed indigestible materials which can include plastics, ropes, other litter and salt deposits trapped in the stomach or digestive tract forming a large stone-like mass. In the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) in Dubai, UAE, of the more than 30,000 camels evaluated from the region since 2008, there have been 300 camels observed post-mortem with polybezoars in their stomach, from both camels in the CRVL or recovered from desiccated skeletons found in the desert. Here, we analyze a subset of five polybezoars ranging from 6.2 to 63.6 kg. Polybeozars lead to gastrointestinal blockages, sepsis from increased gut bacteria, dehydration and malnutrition. Due to high winds and the open desert environment, plastic bags and other film packaging escape open waste bins and landfills, traveling long distances; therefore we suggest improved waste management and alternative systems to package and deliver goods throughout the region.acceptedVersio

Equine rhinitis B viruses in horse fecal samples from the Middle East

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Biochemische Serumparameter bei in Gefangenschaft gehaltenen Gazellen

Objective: This study aimed at comparing serum parameters of clinically healthy gazelles of Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP), Qatar, with reference ranges of domestic and other wild ruminants, in order to gain, on the one hand, insight into the nutritional status of the animals, and, on the other hand, to establish reference ranges for the investigated species. Material and methods: Serum biochemistry parameters and mineral levels were measured in 250 clinically healthy individuals of the species Soemmering's gazelle (Gazella soemmerringii), Speke's gazelle (Gazella spekei), Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas), Saudi gazelle (Gazella saudiya), Mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella), Arabian goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa marica) and Chinkara Pakistani gazelle (Gazella benetti). Results: With respect to the nutritional status, the supplementation with trace elements (selenium, copper, zinc, iron) was adequate at AWWP according to measured serum levels. In contrast, serum levels of phosphorus, total protein and albumin indicated a suboptimal feeding situation, most likely due to the low quality of the roughage available in the region. The levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, choride, triglycerides, cholesterol, creatinine, ALT- as well as GGT avtivity were -as in other wild ruminants-within the reference range of domestic ruminants, which therefore should be applicable to ruminants in general. The contents of glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatine kinase and ALP, in contrast, seem to be generally elevated in wild ruminants. While other wild ruminants display an AST activity comparable to those of domestic ruminants, gazelles of both this and other studies had elevated values of this enzyme. Conclusion and clinical relevance: These peculiarities need to be accounted for when interpreting blood values

Polyphyletic origin of MERS coronaviruses and isolation of a novel clade A strain from dromedary camels in the United Arab Emirates

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Natural Burkholderia mallei Infection in Dromedary, Bahrain

We confirm a natural infection of dromedaries with glanders. Multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis of a Burkholderia mallei strain isolated from a diseased dromedary in Bahrain revealed close genetic proximity to strain Dubai 7, which caused an outbreak of glanders in horses in the United Arab Emirates in 2004