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The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Abstract

Camels are vital livestock in arid regions, yet their elemental exposure remains underexplored, particularly through non-invasive biomarkers. This study is novel in applying camel hair as a non-invasive, long-term biomarker to assess nutritional adequacy and environmental exposure in a free-grazing desert herd, with age-stratified evaluation of essential and toxic element accumulation. For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was conducted on a herd of 18 apparently healthy camels (≤6 months: 28%; >6 months: 72%). Initially, hair samples were collected, washed, digested, and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The samples were then analyzed to determine the concentrations of 12 essential and 13 toxic elements. Results indicated that magnesium (617,611 ppb), calcium (487,461 ppb), phosphorus (478,471 ppb), and potassium (220,459 ppb) were the most abundant essential elements, followed by zinc (122,063 ppb) and iron (62,608 ppb). On the other hand, aluminum was the most toxic element (56,512 ppb), with barium (2,322 ppb) and lead (1,229 ppb) also notable. Age-related differences revealed that older camels had significantly higher phosphorus, potassium, and zinc levels, reflecting dietary transition to fibrous grazing plants. In contrast, cadmium was elevated in younger camels, suggesting maternal transfer via milk, while arsenic levels were higher in older animals, consistent with cumulative environmental exposure. Essential element profiles indicate the adequacy of traditional grazing systems, while alarming levels of some trace elements were found in calves. Camel hair analysis provides a practical and welfare-friendly tool for integrated monitoring of animal health and environmental quality in arid ecosystems, supporting its use in surveillance programs and future ecosystem-based risk assessments. Future studies incorporating soil and forage analyses and broader populations are warranted to establish regional reference values.

DOI

10.56808/2985-1130.3935

First Page

1

Last Page

7

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