Impact on Hematological Parameters in Young and Adult Murrah Buffaloes Exposed to Acute Heat Stress

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of acute heat stress on some hematological parameters in which young and adult Murrah buffaloes (n=6) were exposed to 40°C, 42°C, 45°C for 4 h duration in climatic chamber and thermoneutral temperature (22°C). Blood samples were collected by jugular vein puncture in sterile vacutainer tubes containing ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) from animals after 4 h exposure to different temperatures. In packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin, there was an increasing trend with increase of temperature, but there was no effect of age on these parameters. In case of total erythrocytic count (TEC), there was no effect of temperature but adult animals had higher TEC. Total leukocytic count (TLC) was signifi cantly increased at 40°C and 42°C in young, but there was no effect of temperature on TLC in adult animals. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) values were similar in all the four temperatures groups in both young and adult animals. There was no effect of temperature and age on mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) values. The intensity of changes in all parameters were more pronounced in young animals compared to adult, indicating that young animals were more susceptible to heat stress compared to their adult counterparts. This study concludes that acute heat stress evokes a series of drastic changes in the animal’s hematological functions.