SHORT COMMUNICATION: EFFECT OF SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE SUPPLEMENTATION ON SOME BIOMARKERS OF OXIDATIVE STRESS IN WEANED RABBITS DURING THE HOT-DRY SEASON

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) supplementation on some biomarkers of oxidative stress in rabbits during the hot-dry season (temperature-humidity index: 33.2 +/- 0.9 degrees C). Sixty healthy weaned crossbred rabbits, aged between 5-6 wk with live weight of 612.7 +/- 60.8 g (mean standard deviation) were used. The rabbits were divided into 5 treatment groups; SCO receiving a control diet without supplementation of SC, and SC2, SC4, SC6 and SC8 receiving the control diet supplemented with SC at the rate of 2, 4, 6 and 8x10(9) colony forming units/kg, respectively. The activity of total superoxide dismutase and malonaldehyde in serum were not significantly affected, but serum catalase concentration rose (P<0.05) as the SC inclusion level increased. Although further studies are required, baker's yeast containing SC could help ameliorate the adverse effects of heat stress in rabbits.