Congenital Goiter in Camels

Goiter in Camel or clinical diagnosed iodine deficiency (because iodine is crucial constituent of thyroid hormone ( Arthur and Bechett, 1999) is rarely to be seen in Qatar at least the last 5 years ago but I see 2 cases of goiter in young goat. Camels are so sensitive to iodine deficiency however it rarely show goiter in adult camels but there are many research about goiter in new born camels especially in Arabian Gulf area. In 2012/2013 many cases of congenital goiter in newborn camel calves have been seen in different area in Qatar like (Al-Zubara, Al-Nasrania, Al-Kheriab, Al-Wakra), most of these cases died within few weeks after birth and few cases dead few hours after birth, others(Stillbirth) cases. Some people refer that to the ration in which some owners give two type of foods one contain local green Alfa Alfa the other feed on barley and barley hulls came from Tanzania, most of new born calves come from the group that feed on barely hulls from Tanzania show clinical goiter. That not guide us jumping to conclusion that the real cause of this disease if only nutritional due to ration come from area deficient in Iodine, because many other cases feed on ration come from different area show also the same signs.

This big loss of new born calves consider as a big economic loss that make a lot of Camel owners suffer from this disease specially due to lack of information about causes and treatment of this disease. So that I begin to collect most of researches that help me to put a complete picture about this disease to understand the nature of the disease and possible trials of treatment and prevention.

research about the effect of this disease on the calf, causes of death and possible field trials of effective treatment. We are still in the process of investigation and collecting of laboratory data and results of treatment trials.

I hope this work help the veterinarians and all interested with Camel medicine to find all information about this disease in one article

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Dr. Medhat Abdelkader El shemy

(BVSc., P. G. Diploma Diseases of live stock)