The highly incident causes of accidental poisoning in camels and sheep in Saudi Arabia and their economic impact

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to adequately investigate the most frequent causes of poisoning in camels and sheep in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: Appropriate data were carefully collected from the recorded animal poisoning cases in the Veterinary Health and Monitoring Department, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), during the period (from 2018 to 2019). All recorded cases were accurately diagnosed with a case history and reported clinical signs as well as definitive confirmation by laboratory analysis of the collected samples. Results: From the recorded data of 852 camel and sheep poisoned cases, the results showed that the primary causes of animal poisoning in Saudi Arabia were Cyanogenic glycosides (42.25%), Pesticides (26.76%), Mycotoxins (18.8%), and Drugs (12.2%). These cases were recorded only in 5 geographical regions (Riyadh, Qassim, Makkah, Northern borders, and Eastern province) Conclusion: Accidental toxicity in camel and sheep in KSA was mainly caused by Cyanogenic glycosides, Pesticides, Mycotoxins, and Drug toxicity. The frequent reasons for possible toxicity should be minimized through active veterinary extension.