Aetiology and Pathogenesis Studies on Osteoporosis in Bactrian Camel

<正> A disease characterized by emaciation, pica, lameness and liability to fracture in bactrian camel from gravel desert pasture was described. Analyses of mineral elements in soil, water and forage from the affected and normal areas as well as in blood, hair and parts of tissues from normal and diseased camel, together with a pathological study were carried out to define the nature and major causes of the disease. The related blood indices were also measured. The result indicated that copper and phosphorus in the soil and forage from the affected area were significantly lower than those of the normal area (P<0.01). The levels of phosphorus in the blood, hair and rib reduced significantly in affected camels. The concentrations of PTH, T3, T4, creat-inine(Crt) and the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum rose markedly (P<0.01). Bone injury was characterized by osteoporosis. The degenerative and necrotic lesions of liver and kidney were common. In addition, slight