Biochemical Studies on the Amylolytic Activities of Microorganisms Responsible for Starch Degradation in the Ruminal Fluid of the Camel ( C amelus dromedarius)

Abstract

Interest in camel research as pseudoruminants has increased in many parts of the world as camels play an important socio-economic role within the pastoral and agricultural systems in dry and semidry zones of Asia and Africa. Furthermore the survival of millions of human beings is dependent on the camel in such areas where it produces milk, meat, wool, hair, hides and serves for riding. The camels gained a special importance and a great attention after they were proved to be the best among the other agricultural animals especially during sever prolonged drought strikes when other animals cease to produce or die out. Recently, the Camel Applied Research and Development Network (CARDN) belonging to the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) in Syria was constructed and including several Arabian, African and Asian countries where it finances the camel researches. Due to the deficiency in information concerning the physiology of digestion in camel, and attempts to compensate this by reference to ruminants which is unwise as distinct differences occur in the features of their compound stomach and the secretions of the rumen fluid, different studies should be carried out in order to understand the physiology of digestion in camel through separation, purification and characterization of microbial digestive enzymes which are responsible for digestion in camel rumen. As a result, this study was concerned with a-amylases which are responsible for degradation of starchy materials in camel rumen. In spite of the great importance of the protozoal a-amylases in rumen fluid of ruminants,