Effect of season and breed on physiological and blood parameters in buffaloes

Abstract

In this Research Communication we describe the effect of temperature and humidity index (THI) on various physiological traits, the plasma heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and cortisol levels and other blood parameters in crossbred buffalo (Nili-Ravi × Murrah) and Mediterranean buffalo to compare their tolerance to heat stress. As expected, crossbred buffalo had a significantly higher rectal temperature (RT), body surface temperature (BT), respiratory rate (RR), HSP70 and HSP90 levels in summer compared to spring and winter. RT and BT were also significantly higher in spring compared to winter. A significant correlation existed between THI and RT (r = 0·81) and RR (r = 0·84). Importantly, in summer the crossbred buffalo had a significantly lower RT, BT and RR and higher HSP70, HSP90 and cortisol levels than the Mediterranean buffalo. In conclusion, higher THI was associated with significant increase in RT, RR, BT, HSP70, HSP90 and cortisol levels, and the crossbred buffalo were more heat tolerant than Mediterranean buffalo.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Potential Regulatory Genes Related to Heat Tolerance in Holstein Dairy Cattle

“…Elevated temperature increased the plasma HSP90 and HSP70 levels more markedly in HT than in NHT individuals, coinciding to previous study in cattle [33] and rodents [34]. Higher plasma cortisol levels observed in the HT than in NHT individuals after the heat stress challenge in the present study is consistent with those reported by Hammond, et al [35] in heat tolerant Romosinuano (RO) and heat-sensitive Angus (ANG) heifers after heat stress, and Shenhe et al [16] in Mediterranean and Crossbred buffalo after heat stress. Thus, our findings showed that the selection of HT and NHT Chinese Holstein dairy cows is practical and can be used as reference for further analysis.…”

“…Heat stress indexes including physiological indicators and milk yield change were used to investigate the response of Chinese Holstein dairy cows (n = 42) to heat stress. First, rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR) were detected and recorded at 1:00-3:00 pm for 7 consecutive days in June and August for each experimental cow according to previous methods [16]. Milk yield was recorded three times per day for 7 consecutive days at the beginning of June and August, respectively, and changes in milk yield per cow owing to heat stress was calculated as the difference in the milk yield between two months.…”

Seasonal Dynamics of Physiological, Oxidative and Metabolic Responses in Non-lactating Nili-Ravi Buffaloes Under Hot and Humid Climate

“…Similar findings regarding high cortisol contents in summer have been reported earlier in Egyptian buffaloes ( 1 ), Murrah buffaloes ( 17 , 29 ), and Sahiwal cows ( 13 ). Moreover, elevated cortisol levels have been observed in crossbred buffaloes (Nili-Ravi × Murrah) as compared to purebred Mediterranean buffaloes ( 49 ).…”

Identifying Hub Genes for Heat Tolerance in Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Using Transcriptome Data

“…However, they still feel great distress if exposed to direct solar radiation or working in the sunlight during hot weather, thereby affecting their production performance. For example, increased rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR) result in a reduction of milk production and poor fertility in buffaloes (Vale, 2010; Maf, 2017; Shenhe et al, 2018). Three mitigation strategies can be recently used for combating the adverse effects of summer heat stress in animals, such as physical modification of the environment (Fournel et al, 2017), development of genetically heat tolerant breeds (Breede and Collier, 1986), and nutritional modification (West, 1999).…”