THERMOREGULATION AND BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN MALE DROMEDARY CAMELS DURING HOT-HUMID AND HOT-DRY ENVIRONMENTS UNDER EGYPTIAN CONDITIONS

The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of breeding and non-breeding seasons either hot-humid or hot-dry months on thermoregulation parameters, blood haematology and blood serum components of 65 clinically healthy male dromedary camels. The obtained results showed that, rectal temperature, respiration rate and pulse rate were significantly (P<0.05) higher during non-breeding season in hot-humid months than hot-dry months and breeding season. Haemoglobin and haematocrit red blood cells were significantly (P<0.05) higher during non-breeding season either hot-humid or hot-dry months than breeding season. While, white blood cells count was significantly (P<0.05) lower during non-breeding season in hot-humid months than hot-dry months and breeding season. Total protein concentration was significantly (P<0.05) increased, while albumin and globulin concentrations were insignificantly increased in the non-breeding season in hot-humid months as compared with hot-dry months and breeding season. Sodium concentration and activities of alkaline phosphatase, alanine-aminotransferase and aspartate-aminotransferase enzymes were significantly (P<0.05) higher during non-breeding season in hot-humid months as compared with hot-dry months and breeding season. Potassium concentration was significantly (P<0.05) higher during breeding and non-breeding seasons in hot-dry months than in hot-humid months. Cholesterol, calcium, total phosphorus and testosterone hormone concentrations were significantly (P<0.05) higher during breeding season than the non-breeding season in hot-dry and hot-humid months.