CAMEL IMMUNE SYSTEM: IgM, IgG, IgA and even IgD have been detected in camel sera on the basis of cross-reactivity with human immunoglobulins (Hamers, 1998).In 1993 Hamers-Casterman et al described the amazing camel immune system,different from all other mammalians. Sub classes IgG2 and IgG3 (natural for camels)consist of only two heavy chains. Light chains (VL) are not present. There is a single V domain (VHH) (Riechmann & Muyldermans, 1999). Camel VHH have a long complementary determining region (CDR3) loop, compensating for absence of the VL (Muyldermans et al, 2001).Conventional antibodies rarely show a complete neutralizing activity againstenzyme antigens. Camel IgG has a full neutralizing activity against tetanus toxinas it enters the ezymes structure. Camel hyper variable regions have increase drepertoire of antigen binding sites (Muyldermans et al, 2001). Camel VHH domainsare better suited to enzyme inhibitors than human antibody fragments (Riechmann &Muldermans, 1999), thus offering a potential for viral enzymatic neutralization (Hoelzer etal, 1998; El-Agamy, 2000).A major flaw in the development of human-immunotherapy is the size of the antibodies. Larger antibodies cannot reach their target.CAMEL ANTIBODIES ARE ONE TENTH OF THE SIZE OF HUMAN ONES (naturalnanobodies).The comparative simplicity, high affinity and specificity of camel Igs, and the potentialto reach and interact with active sites allow for penetration of dense tissues to reach the antigen. VIRAL DISEASES: Viral enzymes play a key role in triggering diseases, and by neutralizing them a replication of viruses would stop. A camel variable domain antibody fraction of is apotent and selective inhibitor of the Hepatitis C enzyme system (Martin et al, 1997).This explains the extreme resistance to many deadly animal viral diseases like Foot& Mouth, Rift Valley fever and Rinderpest (Hamers et al, 1998).THE LARGE NUMBER OF VIRAL ANTIBODIES IN CAMEL SERUM AND MILKSUGGESTS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO DISEASES BUT NOTINFECTED.Microbial diseases such as leptospirosis, glanders, lymphangitis, mastitis,pasteurellosis, paratuberculosis, tetanus, botulism, clostridia and rickettsia are of very minor importance in camels (Koerhler-Rollefsen et al, 2001) CAMEL (CAMELUS DROMEDARIUS) MILK: Besides the nutritive value of camel milk, which is extremely well adapted for human requirements, there appears to be an additional factor: the medicinal, or NATURALHEALING properties of the milk. In addition to folklore tales (Yagil, 1982), there are tuberculosis clinics treating TB with camel milk (Urazakov & Bainazarov, 1974);diabetes mellitus is being treated with camel milk and there also have been reportson the use of camel milk on liver function (Sharmanov et al. 1978; Zagorski et al,1998; Zhangabilov et al, 2000).The tuberculosis treatment used milk of the two-humped bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) while diabetes was treated with milk of the one-humped dromedary(Camelus dromedarius) although it has been established that dromedary milk also has a beneficial effect on tuberculosis, especially those suffering from multiple drug resistance (Gorakh et al, 2000; Alwan & Farhuni, 2000).➡It is pertinent to note that whereas nomads in Africa and India boil the milk of cowsand goats they do not dos with camel milk. This is true for most nomadic camel communities . It would explain why camels suffer few diseases, their milk is free ofpathogens and it has be e n empirically noted that heat destroys the beneficial aspects of the milk, especially immunoglobulins (Koehler-Rollefson et al, 2001). CAMEL MILK COMPOSITION: Research on milk of the one-humped camel has been done in greater detail than that of the two-humped camel (Yagil & van Creveld, 2000).Dromedary milk is pure white as the fats are finely homogenized throughout themilk; the milk is low fat -2% (Yagil, 1985) and the fats consist mainly of PUFAs - longchained poly unsaturated fatty acids (Abu-Lehiya, 1987); it has a relatively low pH(Yagil et al, 1984) probably caused by the high concentrations of ascorbic acid -vitamin C (Yagil, 1985; Farah, 1996); proteins are present at 3.2% but lack theALLERGENIC !beta lactoglobulin and have a different, “new” beta casein (Beg etal, 1986); there are bacteriostatic and viricide activities of the milk (Barbour et al,1984; El-Agamy et al, 1993); lactose appears in similar percentages to cow milk but lactose intolerant people do not exhibit the typical signs after drinking camel milk(Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures).Camel milk has high concentrations of calcium and iron so the low pH of the milk(from the ascorbic acid - vitamin C) allows enhanced absorption from the duodenum. INSULIN IN MILK: (a) Camel milk contains large concentrations of insulin - 150 U/ml (Zagorski et al,1998);(b) Fasted and dehydrated rats and rabbits had a decline in blood sugar afterreceiving camel milk. As fasting nullifies insulin secretion, the drop in blood sugarindicates insulin activity.It must be noted that fasted rabbits used to be the bioassay for insulin – the concentration of insulin given as rabbit units.8(c) Streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats was controlled and cured with camel milk.(d) Although human, cow and goat milk contain insulin, it is degraded in the acidenvironment of the stomach. This does not occur with camel milk which does not react to acid (Abu-Lehiya, 1989) and no coagulum is formed. Personal observation in a calf which died 2 hours after suckling: no coagulum was present in stomach although it was filled with milk.PROTECTIVE PROTEINS:Camel milk contains various protective proteins, mainly enzymes which exert antibacterial and immunological properties (Kappeler, 1998).The presence of these proteins help explain some of the NATURAL HEALINGproperties of the milk. The known protective proteins, and their immunological action , in camel milk are:Lysozymes• participates in primary immune system, which is based on targeting ofstructures common to invading pathogens.Immunoglobulins• These give the immune protection to the body against infections.Lactoferrin• iron-saturated lactoferrin (from second week lactation) prevents microbial growth in gut.• participates in primary immune system, which is based on targeting of structures common to invading pathogens.• Camelid milk apparently contains much more lactoferrin than in ruminant(cow, sheep and goat) milk (Morin et al, 1995). Lactoperoxidase• lactoperoxidase is found in milk, tears and saliva. It contributes to the nonimmune host defense system.• exerting bactericidal activity, mainly on gram-negative bacteria.• has growth promotion activity.• has anti-tumor activity (Ueda et al, 1997).• has a close relation (71%) to human thyroid peroxidase, which is involved iniodination and coupling in the formation of the thyroid hormones.Peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGRP)9• the highest concentrations of this enzyme is in camel milk.• was first discovered in camel milk• has apparent effect on breast cancer (Kiselev et al, 1998) by controllingmetastasis (Kustikova et al, 1996).• stimulates the host’s immune response• broad antimicrobial activity.N-acetyl-§-glucosaminidase (NAGase): The milk enzyme NAGase is an acceptedtest for mastitis in cows. When it was first documented that camel milk was rich inNAGase it was assumed that those camels suffered from subclinical mastitis(Abdurahman, 1995). However after checking milk of hundreds of camels (Chafferet al, in Press) and llamas (Morin et al, 1995) all with high NAGase levels anotherconclusion was reached. It was concluded that NAGase has an antibacterial activity and so strengthens the antibacterial-antiviral activity of the milk. It is noteworthy that the NAGase activity is similar to that in women's milk, confirming the nutritional advantages of camel milk over cow milk.In Israel (RY) a number of diseases have reacted positively to drinking camel milk: CLINICAL OBSERVATION DATA BASE: Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM):In India a comparison between conventionally treated juvenile diabetes withthose also drinking camel milk showed that the group drinking the milk hadsignificantly reduced blood sugar and reduced HbA1C levels (Agrawal et al,2002).The amounts of injected insulin were also significantly reduced.In Israel diabetics drinking camel milk showed similar results as in the clinical trials. A case in particular was a young girl who started drinking camel milk within2 weeks of the diagnosis of IDDM. After 8 weeks she was getting minimal dose of insulin while blood sugar declined to 80mg% and HbA1C to 7.IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT HYPOGLYCEMIA IS A COMMON FINDING WITHTHE MILK, PROBABLY DUE TO THE REDUCED FEEDBACK OF GLYCOGEN. Milk allergies: The fact that camel milk lacks lack β−lactoglobulin and a "new" β−-casein (Beget al, 1986), two powerful allergens in cow milk, makes the milk attractive forchildren suffering from milk allergies (Makinen-Kijunen & Palosvo, 1992).Phylogenetic differences could be responsible for the failed recognition of10camels’ proteins by circulating IgEs and monoclonal antibodies (Restani et al,1999). Children with severe food allergies improved rapidly with camel milk.Crohn's Disease: Crohn’s disease is becoming an epidemic in many countries.Lately increasing evidence points to a primary bacterial infection by Mycobacterium avium - subspecies: paratuberculosis (MAP). This mycobacterium could spread via cow milk as it is unaffected by pasteurization. IT IS POSIBLE TO GET MORE INFORMATION FROM THE INTERNET BY SEARCHING“PARATUBERCULOSIS”. Apparently MAP enters the mucosa as saprophytes and only become active when the person is in severe stress, leading to a secondary autoimmune response.As the bacteria belongs to the family of tuberculosis and as camel milk has beenused to treat tuberculosis (Urazakov & Bainazarov, 1974,) it becomes apparentthat the powerful bactericide properties of camel milk combined with PGRP havea quick and positive effect on the healing process. In addition, immunoglobulins attack the anti-DNA and restore the immune system.Autism: As a malfunction of the immune system causes an alimentary enzymeinhibition, causing the breakdown of casein, not to amino acids, but tocasomorphine. The casomorphine is a powerful opioid, much more potent thanmorphine itself. Autistic children drinking camel milk have had amazing improvements in their behavior and diets. CONCLUSION: Camels’ immune system is stronger than that of humans’ and the smallimmunoglobulins pass from the camel milk into the human blood. Asimmunoglobulins are found in camel milk throughout lactation, drinking milk will provide a ‘tool’ for combatting autoimmune diseases by rehabilitating the immune system rather than is depression.NOTE: Camel milk creams have a healing effect on skin autoimmune diseases. Reference: Selected from papers by Prof Reuven Yagil August 2004
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