Etio-pathology and therapeutics of pica in dromedary camels

In the present study, a very high incidence (51.66%) of pica was recorded in camels of all age groups at an organised farm. Camel calves of less than one year of age showed vices of licking the manger and corral walls along with eating floor soil. Pica was more pronounced in active growing camels between 1-5 years of age. Common vices observed were osteophagia, geophagia, lithophagia and coprophagia depending upon the availability of that particular object in the vicinity of the camels. General weakness as reflected by thinness of the hump, roughness of the hair coat, anaemia and emaciation were commonly observed symptoms. High faecal silica content in the pica affected camels suggested high silica consumption by the pica affected camels. There was a significant decrease in mean erythrocyte count, haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, total serum protein, serum globulin, serum calcium and phosphorus concentrations in the pica affected camel, as compared to healthy and treated camels. Decrease in zinc and iron levels were also observed in the pica affected camels as compared to healthy camels. No significant difference in serum copper, cobalt and selenium concentrations were recorded in pica affected and healthy camels. Treatment using specially designed mineral mixture at the rate of 50 gm per day per animal for 60 days was found satisfactory in terms of improving haemato-biochemical and serum mineral profiles in camels. Mineral mixture supplementation was also found satisfactory in reducing the symptoms of pica.