Khaberni - With a scrutinizing eye, a veterinary expert examines the camels participating in beauty contests, then announces a decision that stirs a wave of objections: "This camel has been injected with botox".
This judging practice in camel beauty contests relies on the human eye, which experts believe can sometimes err in judgment. This has prompted scientists to suggest a practice akin to using video referee "VAR" in football matches.
Just as football referees turn to video screens to review controversial incidents, their counterparts in camel beauty contests can turn to another type of screen, displaying the results of ultrasound scans that can be used to examine camels suspected of enhanced beauty.
A research team from universities in Saudi Arabia and Egypt suggest using this technique in camel beauty contests, confirming in their study published in the "BMC Veterinary Research" that it effectively reveals the "imprint" left by the use of botox on the lips and faces of the camels.
What is "camel botox"?
Those desiring to win in beauty contests resort to enhancing camels' appearance using "botox," a trade name derived from the words "botulinum" and "toxin," meaning botulinum toxin, which is produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. It is relied upon for cosmetic procedures, both in humans and animals.
This substance is used in very small doses, and when used, it works by preventing nerve signals from reaching the muscles, resulting in a temporary relaxation that typically lasts from two to six months.
This practice is mainly used on the lips and face, where it makes the camel's lips fuller and rounder and improves facial features by enhancing the nose, making it appear "more symmetrical".
The "beauty of the nose and face" are the most important standards in evaluating head features, which are the most significant elements in the beauty of camels in contests, along with other elements like a long raised neck, a proportionate hump with the body, general body shape, straight limbs, graceful movement, as well as the quality, gloss, and color uniformity of the fur.
What does ultrasound do?
Botox leaves an "imprint" in camel tissues, and according to a new study led by Dr. Mohamed Marzouk, from the Department of Clinical Studies at King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia, and Dr. Mohamed El-Sherif, from the Department of Surgery at the New Valley University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Egypt, this imprint can be captured only using ultrasound imaging, which can be implemented in competition arenas.
To reach this conclusion, the researchers conducted their study on 18 Arabian camels from the dromedary breed, divided into three groups; two were injected with different doses of botox (100 and 200 units), and a third control group received only saline solution.
During the monitoring period that lasted two months, the researchers observed the morphological changes using visual inspection, precise measurements of lip thickness, alongside ultrasound imaging.
Dr. Mohamed El-Sherif says: "Our results showed that ultrasound is a reliable and non-invasive tool for identifying injection sites and associated tissue changes, as it revealed swelling, changes in tissue structure, and increased lip thickness in botox-treated camels, while untreated animals showed no such changes," according to Al Jazeera.
He adds that "ultrasound imaging can detect these changes early after injection, and even after visible signs have faded, for up to 54 days post-injection."
He also points out that the risks of botox extend beyond merely deceiving judges in beauty contests, as high doses have shown more pronounced and longer-lasting changes in camels, such as sagging lips and swelling of the deep tissue.
A call to introduce the "VAR" referee system
Animal welfare associations object to such practices that compromise animal health for the sake of displaying "fake beauty" to win in these contests, which feature significant cash prizes.
Salwa Abdo, President of the Egyptian Society for the Defense of Animal Rights, supports the introduction of ultrasound technology into beauty contest arenas as an effective tool to detect cosmetic tampering, especially amidst increasing cases of cheating in these contests.
In her statements to Al Jazeera Net, she says that ensuring integrity in such contests serves to preserve the cultural heritage associated with camel beauty, and protects it from unlawful practices.
The ideal form of implementing this practice would be akin to VAR screens in football stadiums.
Mohammed says that an ultrasound device is a small tool (probe) placed on the lips or areas suspected of being injected with botox, sending sound waves into the tissue, immediately displaying an image on the screen. This image will show fluid accumulation (from the injection), an abnormal increase in thickness, and changes in the tissue structure, indicating botox use prior to the competition.
He adds: "Judges will have a screen that provides quick and immediate results, making this practice very practical for competitions, and clearly distinguishing between natural shape and changes resulting from injections, because not all swelling means botox injections have been used."
