Azeez Oyebisi Mistura, Olaifa Folashade Helen, Adah Adakole Sylvanus, Basiru Afisu, Akorede Ganiu Jimoh, Ambali Hauwa Moturayo, Suleiman Kolawole Yusuf, Sanusi Fatima, Bolaji Mashood
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
Vet World. 2022 Mar;15(3):722-727. doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2022.722-727. Epub 2022 Mar 25.
Heat stress is a major challenge for animals, impairing their welfare and performance. This study aimed to determine the effect of heat stress on the vital and hematobiochemical parameters of healthy dogs.
The experimental subjects comprised 10 dogs, encompassing seven males and three non-pregnant females between 2 and 3 years of age. Ambient temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH) were recorded 2 hourly during the day and the temperature humidity index was calculated. Vital parameters [i.e., rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate, and heart rate (HR)] were assessed and blood was collected from each dog daily for hematobiochemical analysis.
The RT (38.5±0.2°C) of dogs exposed to high AT and high RH (HA/HR) conditions was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of dogs exposed to HA and low RH (LR) conditions (37.2±0.11°C). Under HA/HR conditions, packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentrations, and white blood cell counts were significantly lower than those of the same dogs exposed to HA/LR conditions. Conversely, under HA/HR conditions, the lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and cortisol values were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the values obtained in dogs exposed to HA/LR conditions. Meanwhile, the alkaline phosphatase, urea, and glucose levels were significantly lower (p<0.05) in dogs exposed to HA/HR conditions.
The exposure of healthy dogs to HA/HR conditions induced heat stress, which may have an adverse effect on their immune status, thereby affecting their health and welfare.
热应激是动物面临的一项重大挑战，会损害它们的健康和性能。本研究旨在确定热应激对健康犬重要生命体征和血液生化参数的影响。
实验对象为10只犬，包括7只雄性和3只2至3岁未怀孕的雌性犬。白天每2小时记录一次环境温度（AT）和相对湿度（RH），并计算温度湿度指数。评估重要生命体征参数[即直肠温度（RT）、呼吸频率和心率（HR）]，每天从每只犬采集血液进行血液生化分析。
暴露于高环境温度和高相对湿度（HA/HR）条件下的犬的直肠温度（38.5±0.2°C）显著（p<0.05）高于暴露于高环境温度和低相对湿度（LR）条件下的犬（37.2±0.11°C）。在HA/HR条件下，红细胞压积、血红蛋白浓度和白细胞计数显著低于同一批犬在HA/LR条件下的数值。相反，在HA/HR条件下，淋巴细胞、单核细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞、丙氨酸转氨酶、天冬氨酸转氨酶和皮质醇值显著（p<0.05）高于暴露于HA/LR条件下的犬的数值。同时，暴露于HA/HR条件下的犬的碱性磷酸酶、尿素和葡萄糖水平显著降低（p<0.05）。
健康犬暴露于HA/HR条件会引发热应激，这可能对其免疫状态产生不利影响，从而影响它们的健康和福利。
