# Integrative analysis of genetic, biochemical, and microbial factors in camel calf diarrhea **Authors:** Ahmed Elsayed, Amani A. Hafez, Mohamed T. Ragab, Marwa A. Fawzy, Adel M. El-Kattan, Ahmed I. Ateya PMC · DOI: 10.1007/s11259-025-11027-w · Veterinary Research Communications · 2026-02-06 ## TL;DR This study explores the causes of camel calf diarrhea by analyzing bacteria, genetic changes, and biochemical markers to understand its complex origins and suggest better prevention methods. ## Contribution The study integrates genetic, biochemical, and microbial data to reveal the multifactorial nature of camel calf diarrhea. ## Key findings - Diarrheic calves showed upregulated immune genes and downregulated antioxidant markers. - Biochemical profiles revealed elevated liver enzymes and oxidative stress markers in affected calves. - Multiplex PCR identified key bacterial pathogens with specific virulence genes in diarrheic cases. ## Abstract Diarrhea, though a clinical symptom, poses a major veterinary concern in camel calves due to high morbidity, mortality, growth retardation, and economic losses. This study investigated key bacterial enteropathogens, coding mutations, gene expression, and serum biochemical/antioxidant profiles in 35 healthy and 35 diarrheic camel calves. Fecal analysis using multiplex PCR identified Salmonella spp., Clostridium perfringens, Proteus spp., and Escherichia coli with distinct virulence genes (e.g., papC, eaeA, iutA, hilA, sopB, plc, ureC). Diarrheic calves showed significant upregulation of immune-related genes (IL-8, IL-17, TLR4, TNFα, PIN1, IER3, UBD, TECPR1) and downregulation of antioxidant markers (PRDX2, SOD3, CAT, Nrf2), alongside sequence variations. Biochemically, diarrheic calves exhibited elevated serum AST, ALT, ALP, urea, creatinine, potassium, and MDA, with reduced glucose, total protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, chloride, and SOD. These findings highlight the multifactorial etiology of diarrhea, linking bacterial virulence with metabolic and oxidative stress alterations, providing insights for targeted prevention and therapeutic strategies in camel herds. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11259-025-11027-w. ## Linked entities - **Genes:** CXCL8 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8) [NCBI Gene 3576], IL17A (interleukin 17A) [NCBI Gene 3605], TLR4 (toll like receptor 4) [NCBI Gene 7099], TNF (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 7124], PIN1 (peptidylprolyl cis/trans isomerase, NIMA-interacting 1) [NCBI Gene 5300], IER3 (immediate early response 3) [NCBI Gene 8870], UBD (ubiquitin like modifier D) [NCBI Gene 10537], TECPR1 (tectonin beta-propeller repeat containing 1) [NCBI Gene 25851], PRDX2 (peroxiredoxin 2) [NCBI Gene 7001], SOD3 (superoxide dismutase 3) [NCBI Gene 6649], CAT (catalase) [NCBI Gene 847], GABPA (GA binding protein transcription factor subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 2551] - **Diseases:** diarrhea (MONDO:0001673) ## Full-text entities - **Genes:** IER3 (immediate early response 3) [NCBI Gene 505455], PRDX2 [NCBI Gene 105100750], TLR4 [NCBI Gene 105104576], Aspartate aminotransferase [NCBI Gene 103440674], IER3 [NCBI Gene 105087492], TLR4 (toll like receptor 4) [NCBI Gene 281536], CXCL8 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8) [NCBI Gene 280828] {aka IL-8, IL8}, GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) [NCBI Gene 281181] {aka GAPD}, UBD (ubiquitin D) [NCBI Gene 512938], NETB [NCBI Gene 14100758], TNF (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 280943] {aka TNF-a, TNF-alpha, TNFa}, iutA [NCBI Gene 7324510], PRDX2 (peroxiredoxin 2) [NCBI Gene 286793], NFE2L2 (NFE2 like bZIP transcription factor 2) [NCBI Gene 497024] {aka NRF2}, SOD3 [NCBI Gene 105098363], CAT [NCBI Gene 105106806], CAT (catalase) [NCBI Gene 531682], PIN1 [NCBI Gene 105087652], TECPR1 [NCBI Gene 105099369], TECPR1 (tectonin beta-propeller repeat containing 1) [NCBI Gene 789454], UBD [NCBI Gene 105101138], SPI-1 [NCBI Gene 105106877] - **Diseases:** hypomagnesemia (OMIM:613882), emaciation (MESH:D004614), bacterial infection (MESH:D001424), Hypocalcemia (MESH:D006996), tissue injury (MESH:D017695), infection (MESH:D007239), malabsorption (MESH:D008286), Hypoglycemia (MESH:D007003), hypoproteinemia (MESH:D007019), growth retardation (MESH:D006130), hyperkalemia (MESH:D006947), acidosis (MESH:D000138), septicemia (MESH:D018805), infectious disease (MESH:D003141), organ dysfunction (MESH:D009102), cardiac failure (MESH:D006333), enteric disease (MESH:D004751), hepatic dysfunction (MESH:D008107), death (MESH:D003643), dehydration (MESH:D003681), diarrheal (MESH:D004403), enterotoxemia (MESH:D004767), depression (MESH:D003866), intestinal (MESH:D007410), hypophosphatemia (MESH:D017674), renal damage (MESH:D007674), renal excretion (MESH:D006030), anorexia (MESH:D000855), inflammation (MESH:D007249), Diarrhea (MESH:D003967), fecal loss (MESH:D005242), hypovolemia (MESH:D020896), fever (MESH:D005334) - **Chemicals:** Mg (MESH:D008274), glucose (MESH:D005947), L (MESH:D007930), N (MESH:D009584), Valine (MESH:D014633), Phenylalanine (MESH:D010649), lipid (MESH:D008055), Ca (MESH:D002118), Glutamic acid (MESH:D018698), Trizol (MESH:C411644), P (MESH:D010758), Glycine (MESH:D005998), citrate (MESH:D019343), S (MESH:D013455), iron (MESH:D007501), Cysteine (MESH:D003545), creatinine (MESH:D003404), Na (MESH:D012964), Methionine (MESH:D008715), HiCrome UTI (-), Glutamine (MESH:D005973), H2S (MESH:D006862), Cl (MESH:D002713), indole (MESH:C030374), methyl red (MESH:C008492), Tyrosine (MESH:D014443), Aspartic acid (MESH:D001224), T (MESH:D014316), urea (MESH:D014508), E (MESH:D004540), Serine (MESH:D012694), Threonine (MESH:D013912), Lysine (MESH:D008239), K (MESH:D011188), EDTA (MESH:D004492), D (MESH:D003903), C (MESH:D002244), water (MESH:D014867), Asparagine (MESH:D001216), MDA (MESH:D008315), Alanine (MESH:D000409), luminal (MESH:D010634), Proline (MESH:D011392), blood glucose (MESH:D001786), lactose (MESH:D007785) - **Species:** Proteus (genus) [taxon 210425], Salmonella enterica (species) [taxon 28901], Capra hircus (domestic goat, species) [taxon 9925], Staphylococcus sp. S (species) [taxon 573870], Camelus dromedarius (Arabian camel, species) [taxon 9838], Bos taurus (bovine, species) [taxon 9913], Ovis aries (domestic sheep, species) [taxon 9940], Escherichia coli (E. coli, species) [taxon 562], Clostridium perfringens (species) [taxon 1502] - **Mutations:** T129C, C for 16-18, C45, C334A, A145G, 16 T to S, G400T, A76C, 73 M to T, 11 M to T, 73 S to R, T74A, G45T, G40A, C237T, C for 18-24, C198A, 58 E to Q, 25 N to K, G172C, A366C, T31C, 517 bp M, T70G, 134 A to S, 142 D to G, T218C, C219G, A425G, 26 M to L, 14 S to N, T51C, 112 A to E, C47G, 65 D to N, A171C, 24 F to V, G193A, T363C, 49 K to E ## Full text _Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12881016/full.md ## Figures 6 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12881016/full.md --- Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12881016