A stem cell treatment was applied to a camel at MAKÜ for the first time in Turkey
It was determined that the vision loss of the 7-year-old camel brought from Aydın to Burdur with cataract suspicion was due to retinal causes. A total of 800 thousand stem cells were transplanted into both eyes of the camel during the operation performed at MAKÜ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The camel, named 'Salda', is expected to regain its vision within two months.
Yapılış Tarihi | 27 October 2026, Tuesday
Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) has signed a remarkable treatment application in the field of veterinary medicine. As a result of the examination and tests conducted on the 7-year-old male camel brought from Aydın with cataract suspicion, it was determined that the vision loss was due to retinal causes. Following this, a stem cell treatment was applied to restore the camel's eye health.
In the treatment carried out by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Harun Çınar from the Department of Surgery and Dr. Lecturer Emine Kübra Bilir from the Department of Pathology at MAKÜ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, stem cells obtained from the camel's own blood were used.
A total of 800 thousand stem cells were transplanted into both eyes
Sharing the details of the operation, Dr. Lecturer Emine Kübra Bilir stated that for the first time in Turkey, a stem cell transplant was performed on a camel, expressing that the application is an important study.
During the treatment process, approximately 1 million stem cells were obtained from 7 milliliters of blood taken from the camel. Of the cells prepared for transplantation, 800 thousand were applied to both eyes of the camel. With the operation using cells obtained from its own blood, it is aimed to accelerate the repair of the damage occurring in the retina.
It is expected to regain its vision within two months
Stating that the aim of the treatment is to support the repair process in the retina, Bilir noted that they expect the applied stem cells to contribute to the healing in the damaged area. Bilir reported that the results of the treatment will be monitored, and it is expected that the camel will regain its vision within approximately two months.
After the operation performed at MAKÜ, the male camel was named 'Salda' after Salda Lake, one of Burdur's important natural beauties.
If the treatment process of Salda results positively, it is expected that the application will contribute to stem cell studies in the field of veterinary medicine.
