Mehmet Akif Ersoy University begins stem cell treatment for camel

Veterinarians at Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) in Burdur, Turkey, have initiated a stem cell treatment for a seven-year-old male camel suffering from a retina disorder. The camel, a wrestling camel originally from Aydın, was brought to the faculty under suspicion of having cataracts, but diagnostic tests revealed the issue was actually located in the retina.

To treat the condition, medical professionals Associate Professor Harun Çınar and Assistant Professor Emine Kübra Bilir plan to use progenitor cells harvested from the animal's own blood. The diagnostic process involved color ultrasonography, angiography, and electroretinography (ERG) to measure the electrical activity of the retina.

This procedure marks the first time such a stem cell treatment has been applied to a camel in Turkey. The treatment process is expected to last approximately one to two months, with the final approach being shaped by the findings obtained during the procedure.