The effect of heat stress on some blood parameters, biochemical values and humoral immunity in Broiler Chickens

Subject Areas : Veterinary Clinical Pathology

عادل Feizi ¹ (Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran)
فرهاد Dadian ² (Graduate of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran)
ساجد Asadzadehmajdi ³ (BVLSc, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shabestar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shabestar, Iran)

Received: 2012-07-24 Accepted : 2012-10-25 Published : 2012-11-21

Keywords: broiler chickens, heat stress, blood parameters, biochemical, Humoral immune,

Abstract :

This research was conducted to determine the effects of Heat stress on some Blood Parameters, serum Biochemical values and humoral immunity in broiler chicks. Eighty day old Cobb broilers were randomly divided into 2 equal groups of control and treatment. Both groups were kept under the same management, nutrition, density, ventilation and vaccination conditions. The only difference between the two groups was treatment of the last week of the breeding period (days 36-42). Which was 24 0C in the control group and 33 0C in the treatment group. At the end of the breeding period (days 42), blood samples were taken from the brachial vein of all broiler. To determine the blood parameters, part of the samples were collected in anticoagulant containing capillary tubes (1mg/ml, EDTA) and were determined immediately. The Haematocrit, Leucocyte counts and differential Leucocyte counts were determined immediately. The other portions of the brachial blood were used to determine blood PH and following centrifuging and separation of the sera, some biochemichal parameters such as Total protein and Glocose were evaluated by colorimetric method with specific kits. To determine the effect of heat stress on Humoral immiunity, serum samples were tested with HI (Haemagglutination Inhibition) method to to clarify antibody production in response to Newcastles disease vaccine. The results of this study showed that Haematocrit, Lymphocyte percentage and Total protein were significantly decreased (p<0/05), but serum levels of Glucose, blood PH, Heterophil percentage H/L and ratio was significantly increased in the treatment group (p<0.05). Evaluation of the Monocyte and Eosinophil percentage did not reveal statistically significant differences between the treatment and control groups (p>0.05). Results of Newcastle HI test showed that HI titers were significantly decreased in treatment group (p<0.05). As a result, broiler chicks subjected to heat stress are susceptible to Newcastles disease and subsequent secondary infections due to suppression of the immune system.

References:

• Alexander, D.J., Manvell, R.J. and Parsons, G.  (2006). Newcastle disease virus (strain Herts 33/56) in tissues and organs of chickens infected experimentally. Avain Pathology, 35:99-101.


• Ben Nathan, D., Heller, E.D. and Perek, M.   (1976). The effect of short hest stress upon leucocyte count, plasma corticosterone level, plasma and leucocyte ascorbic acid count. British Poultry Science, 17:481-485.


• Beuving, G., Jones, R.B. and Blokhuis, H.J.  (1989). Adernocortical and heterophil/lymphocyte responses to challenge in hens showing short or long tonic immobility reactions. British poultry Science, 30:175-184


• Cravener, T.L., Roush, W.B. and Mashaly,   M.M.  (1992). Broiler procution under varying populatin densities. Poultry Sicence, 71:427-433.


• Geraert, P.A., Padilha, J.C.F. and Guillaumin, S.  (1996). Metabolic and endocrine changes induced by chronic heat exposure in broiler chickens. British journal of Nautrition, 75:195-204.


• Gous, R.M. (2005). Nutritional interventions in alleviating the efficacy of high temperature in broiler production. World Poultry Science Journal, 48:175-180.


• Gross, W.B. and Siegel, H.S.  (1983). Evaluation of the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio as a measure of stress in chickens. Avian Diseases, 27:972-979.


• Gross, W.B., and Chickering, W.  (1987). Effects of fasting, water deprivation and adrenal-blocking chemical on resistance to E-coli challenge. Poultry Sience, 66:270-272.


• Gross, W.B.  (1989). Factors affecting chicken thrombocyte morphology and the relationship with heterophil: lymphocyte ratios. British Poultry Science, 30:919-925.


• Hacking, P.M., Maxwell, M.H. and Mitchell, M.A.  (1993). Welfare of broilr breeder and layer females subjected to food and water control during rearing. British Poultry Science, 34:443-458.


• Jones, R.B. (1989). Chronic stressors, tonic immobility and leucocytic responses in the domestic fowl. Physiology and Behavior, 46:439-442.


• McFariane,   J.M. and Curtis, S.E.  (1989). Multiple concurrent stressors in chicks. Poultry Science, 68:522-527.


• Maxwell, M.H. and Robertson, G.W. (1998). The avian heterophil leucocyte: A Review. World's Poult Sci J, 54:155-178.


• Nazifi, S. (2000).  Avian Clinical Hematology and Biochemistry. Shiraz University Publication [In Farsi].


• Niu, Z., Li, Y. and Yan, Q.Z.  (2009). Effects of different levels of vitamin E on growth performance and immune responses of broilers under heat stress. Poult Sci Oct. 88(10):2101-2107.


• Ojano-Dirain, C.P. and Waldroup, P.W.  (2002). Protein and Amino acid needs of broilers in warm weather. Int Journal of Poult Sci, 1:40-46.


• Ozbey, O., Yildez, N., Aysondu, M.H. and Ozman, O.  (2004). The effect of Hight temperatures on blood serum parameters and the egg productivity characteristics of Japanese quails. Int.J.Poult. Sci., 48: 485-489.


• Ozge, A., Ali, A., Metin, C. and Hakan, B.  (2000). Effect of heat stress on some blood parameters in broilers. Turk J Vet Anim Sci, 24:145-148.


• Parker, J.T. and Boone, M.A.  (1970). Thermal stress effects on certain blood characteristics of adult male turkey. Poultry Science, 49:1287-1295.


• Sahin, K., Kucuk, O., Sahin, N. and Sari.  M. (2001). Effect of vitamin C and vitamin E on lipid peroxitation status, some serum hormone, metabolite, of Japanese quails reared under heat stress (34c). Int J Vitam Nutr Res, 71:27-31.


• Senkoylu, N. and Altinsoy, M.  (1999). The physiological views of stress. J Farm Istanbul Turkey, 187:37-39.


• Teeter, R.G., Smith, M.O., Owens, F.N. and Arp, S.C. (1985). Chronic heat stress and respiratory alkalosis: Occurance and treatment in broiler chicks. Poultry Science, 64:1060-1064.


• Vecerek, M., Strakova, S.,   Sunchy, P. and Vaslarova, E.  (2002). Influence of high environmental temperature on production and haematological indexes in broiler chickens. Czech J Anim Sci, 47:176-182.

• نظیفی، س. (1379). هماتولوژی و بیوشیمی بالینی پرندگان. انتشارات دانشگاه شیراز.

• Wehaish, F.E., Abou-Ismail, U.A. and Ageez, A.M.  (2009). Effect of high fat diet on some physiological parameters in broiler chicken under high environmental temperature. Mansoura Vet Med J, 2:1-19.


• Wolford, J.H. and Ringer, R.K.  (1962). Adrenal weight, adrenal ascorbic acid, adrenal cholesterol and differential leukocyte counts as physiological indicators of "stressor" agents in laying hens. Poultry Science, 41:1521-1529.


• Zhou, W.T., Fujita, M. and Yamamato, S.   (1999). Effect of ambient temperature on blood viscosity and plasma protein concentration of broiler chickens (Gallus domesticus). Journal of Therminal Biology, 24:105-112.


• Zulkifli, L., Dunnington, E.A., Gross, W.B. and Siegel, P.B.  (1995). Inhibition of adrenal steroidogenesis,food restriction and acclimation to high ambient temperature in chickens. Brit Poult Sci, 35:417-426.