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The influences of thermal stress on serum biochemical parameters of dromedary camels and their correlation with thyroid activity

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Abstract

In order to study the influences of thermal stress on serum biochemical parameters of dromedary camels and their correlation with thyroid activity, blood samples were taken from the jugular vein of 40 clinically healthy Iranian dromedary camels from December to February (3 times: mean temperature 11°C) and from June to August (3 times: mean temperature 41°C). There were significant differences in the concentrations of serum total protein, glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), sodium, potassium, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) and the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) in heat stress and cold stress conditions (p<0.05).

The concentrations of BUN, sodium, potassium, calcium, inorganic phosphorus and the activities of CK and LD in winter months were higher than summer months, and in contrast, the concentrations of total protein, glucose, T3 and T4 and the activities of AST, ALT and ALP were higher in summer than in winter (p<0.05). Thyroidal hormones (T3 and T4) showed significant correlations with serum total protein, glucose, BUN, AST, ALT, ALP, LD and CK. Our results revealed that very hot and cold conditions had a profound effect on serum biochemical parameters.

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Nazifi, S., Gheisari, H.R. & Poorabbas, H. The influences of thermal stress on serum biochemical parameters of dromedary camels and their correlation with thyroid activity. Comp Haematol Int 9, 49–53 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02585522

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