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. 2013;3(1):64-8.
Epub 2013 Jun 28.

Frequency and type of toenail tumors in the dromedary camel

M I Siddiqui  1 , S A Al-Kubati  1 , M N Telfah  1 , J Rashid  1 , S Hashmi  1
Affiliations

Frequency and type of toenail tumors in the dromedary camel

M I Siddiqui et al. Open Vet J. 2013.

Abstract

A total of 275 dromedary camels (16 males and 259 females) of local "Arabiyat" breed suffering from different types and degrees of severity of toenail tumors were surgically treated. Histopathological examination of the tissue samples removed from 50 tumor-like growths (2 males and 48 females) revealed three types of tumors; squamous cell carcinoma (70%), spiny keratoderma (22%) and fibroma (8%). An increased incidence of tumors was recorded in the medial when compared to the lateral toenails in both sexes. In females, the incidence in the medial toenails was 90/259 (34.75%) and 71/259 (27.41%) in the right and left forelimbs respectively when compared to the lateral toenails which was 25/259 (9.65%) and 5/259 (1.93%) for the respective right and left forelimbs. In the hind limbs, this ratio was 29/259 (11.20%) and 20/259 (7.72%) for right and left medial toenails respectively, whereas it was 17/259 (6.56%) and 2/259 (0.77%) for the right and left lateral toenails respectively. Similar to the observations in female camels, male camels also showed a higher incidence of these tumors in the medial when compared to the lateral toenails in both fore and hind limbs. Based on these findings, we conclude that in the dromedary camels, the medial toenails of the fore limbs are most commonly affected with tumors; with the most common tumor being the squamous cell carcinoma.

Keywords: Camels; Squamous cell carcinoma; Toenails; Tumor.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A spiny keratoderma involving the medial toenail in the right fore limb of a female dromedary camel. The tumor mass was not painful, was hard on palpation, and also not aggressive in its appearance.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A fibroma involving almost half of the medial digit in the left fore limb of a female dromedary camel. The mass was slightly moist, hard and painful upon palpation.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
A squamous cell carcinama involving more than half of the medial digit in a female dromedary camel. The mass was aggressive, fragile, quite painful and bled easily on manipulation.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Disarticulation at the distal interphalangeal joint.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Disarticulation at the proximal interphalangeal joint.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Disarticulation at the metacarpo-phalangeal joint.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (H&E Staining, ×40).
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Spiny Keratoderma (H&E Staining, ×40).
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Fibroma (H&E Staining, ×40).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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