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Abduch NG, Reolon HG, Ligori VA, Silva RMDO, Veríssimo CJ, Paz CCP, Stafuzza NB. Resistance to natural tick infestation varies with age and coat and hair traits in a tropically adapted beef cattle breed. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2024; 50:101017. [PMID: 38644040 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus causes considerable livestock production losses. Knowledge of the traits that influence tick resistance contributes to the development of breeding strategies designed to improve herd productivity. Within this context, this study evaluated the resistance of Caracu, a tropically adapted cattle breed, to R. microplus. Tick count, hair length, coat thickness, and coat color were evaluated in 202 naturally tick-infested females (cows and heifers) over a period of 18 months. Blood samples were collected from all animals during the winter season for hematological analysis. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations, generalized linear models, and principal component analysis. Correlation coefficients of tick count with coat color, coat thickness, and hair length were estimated within each season. Hematological parameters were only included in the winter season analysis and were analyzed by the restricted maximum likelihood method using log-transformed data. No differences in blood parameters were observed between animals with and without ticks. However, tick count was negatively correlated with erythrocytes (-0.29) and hematocrit (-0.24) and positively correlated with mean corpuscular hemoglobin (0.21) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (0.25). These findings suggest that higher tick counts lead to a decrease in erythrocytes but also to an increase in the amount of hemoglobin per erythrocyte, which could reduce the damage caused by low erythrocyte levels due to tick hematophagy, delaying or preventing anemia. Although tick infestation on pasture was demonstrated by the infestation of all staff members during herd management, none of the animals exhibited high tick counts, providing evidence of resistance of Caracu animals to R. microplus. Tick infestation was influenced by age class (cows > heifers), season (spring and summer > fall and winter), coat thickness (>1.5 mm > <1.5 mm), and hair length (>6 mm > <6 mm). Three components were extracted by principal component analysis, which accounted for 69.46% of data variance. The findings of this study will contribute to the development of efficient strategies aimed at reducing economic losses due to tick infestation and could be applied in animal breeding to select for tick resistance traits, reducing chemical control strategies and consequently improving sustainable livestock production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalya Gardezani Abduch
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School (FMRP), University of Sao Paulo (USP), Ribeirao Preto, SP 140349-900, Brazil.
| | | | - Viviane Andrade Ligori
- Beef Cattle Research Center, Animal Science Institute (IZ), Sertaozinho, SP 14160-900, Brazil.
| | | | - Cecília José Veríssimo
- Sao Paulo Agency of Agribusiness and Technology, Animal Science Institute (IZ), Nova Odessa, SP 13380-011, Brazil.
| | - Claudia Cristina Paro Paz
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School (FMRP), University of Sao Paulo (USP), Ribeirao Preto, SP 140349-900, Brazil; Sustainable Livestock Research Center, Animal Science Institute, Sao Jose do Rio Preto, SP 15130-000, Brazil
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Aloui L, Greene ES, Tabler T, Lassiter K, Thompson K, Bottje WG, Orlowski S, Dridi S. Effect of heat stress on the hypothalamic expression profile of water homeostasis-associated genes in low- and high-water efficient chicken lines. Physiol Rep 2024; 12:e15972. [PMID: 38467563 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
With climate change, selection for water efficiency and heat resilience are vitally important. We undertook this study to determine the effect of chronic cyclic heat stress (HS) on the hypothalamic expression profile of water homeostasis-associated markers in high (HWE)- and low (LWE)-water efficient chicken lines. HS significantly elevated core body temperatures of both lines. However, the amplitude was higher by 0.5-1°C in HWE compared to their LWE counterparts. HWE line drank significantly less water than LWE during both thermoneutral (TN) and HS conditions, and HS increased water intake in both lines with pronounced magnitude in LWE birds. HWE had better feed conversion ratio (FCR), water conversion ratio (WCR), and water to feed intake ratio. At the molecular level, the overall hypothalamic expression of aquaporins (AQP8 and AQP12), arginine vasopressin (AVP) and its related receptor AVP2R, angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1), and calbindin 2 (CALB2) were significantly lower; however, CALB1 mRNA and AQP2 protein levels were higher in HWE compared to LWE line. Compared to TN conditions, HS exposure significantly increased mRNA abundances of AQPs (8, 12), AVPR1a, natriuretic peptide A (NPPA), angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), CALB1 and 2, and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 and 4 (TRPV1 and TRPV4) as well as the protein levels of AQP2, however it decreased that of AQP4 gene expression. A significant line by environment interaction was observed in several hypothalamic genes. Heat stress significantly upregulated AQP2 and SCT at mRNA levels and AQP1 and AQP3 at both mRNA and protein levels, but it downregulated that of AQP4 protein only in LWE birds. In HWE broilers, however, HS upregulated the hypothalamic expression of renin (REN) and AVPR1b genes and AQP5 proteins, but it downregulated that of AQP3 protein. The hypothalamic expression of AQP (5, 7, 10, and 11) genes was increased by HS in both chicken lines. In summary, this is the first report showing improvement of growth performances in HWE birds. The hypothalamic expression of several genes was affected in a line- and/or environment-dependent manner, revealing potential molecular signatures for water efficiency and/or heat tolerance in chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loujain Aloui
- Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
- Higher School of Agriculture of Mograne, University of Carthage, Zaghouan, Tunisia
| | - Elizabeth S Greene
- Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Travis Tabler
- Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Kentu Lassiter
- Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Kevin Thompson
- Center for Agricultural Data Analyses, Divion of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Walter G Bottje
- Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Sara Orlowski
- Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Sami Dridi
- Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
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Pérez S, Calvo JH, Calvete C, Joy M, Lobón S. Mitigation and animal response to water stress in small ruminants. Anim Front 2023; 13:81-88. [PMID: 37841759 PMCID: PMC10575300 DOI: 10.1093/af/vfad049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Pérez
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), 50059 Zaragoza, España
| | - Jorge Hugo Calvo
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), 50059 Zaragoza, España
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón – IA2 (CITA-Universidad deZaragoza)
- Fundación Agencia Aragonesa para la Investigación y el Desarrollo (ARAID), 50018 Zaragoza, España
| | - Carlos Calvete
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), 50059 Zaragoza, España
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón – IA2 (CITA-Universidad deZaragoza)
| | - Margalida Joy
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), 50059 Zaragoza, España
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón – IA2 (CITA-Universidad deZaragoza)
| | - Sandra Lobón
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), 50059 Zaragoza, España
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón – IA2 (CITA-Universidad deZaragoza)
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Abduch NG, Pires BV, Souza LL, Vicentini RR, Zadra LEF, Fragomeni BO, Silva RMO, Baldi F, Paz CCP, Stafuzza NB. Effect of Thermal Stress on Thermoregulation, Hematological and Hormonal Characteristics of Caracu Beef Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243473. [PMID: 36552393 PMCID: PMC9774310 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated the influence of environmental temperature on thermoregulation, hormonal, and hematological characteristics in Caracu cattle. Blood samples, hair length, coat and muzzle colors, rectal (RT), and surface temperatures were collected from 48 males and 43 females before (morning) and after sun exposure for eight hours (afternoon). Infrared thermography (IRT) was used to identify superficial temperature that exhibits a high correlation with RT. Hematological parameters, hormone concentrations, RT, and the superficial temperature obtained by IRT that exhibited the highest correlation with RT were evaluated by variance analysis. Regarding IRT, the lower left side of the body (LS) showed the highest correlation with the RT. Interaction between period and sex was observed for LS, cortisol, and eosinophils. Cortisone, progesterone, and RT were influenced by period and sex. Neutrophils and segmented neutrophils were influenced by the period, which showed the highest concentrations after sun exposure. Platelets, leukocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes were influenced by sex. Heat stress changes several physiological characteristics where males and females exhibited differences in their responses to heat stress. Furthermore, most characteristics evaluated remained within the regular values observed for taurine Creole breeds, showing that Caracu is adapted to tropical climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalya G Abduch
- Centro Avançado de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho 14174-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Bianca V Pires
- Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Luana L Souza
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Rogerio R Vicentini
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora 36036-900, MG, Brazil
| | - Lenira El Faro Zadra
- Centro Avançado de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho 14174-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Breno O Fragomeni
- Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | | | - Fernando Baldi
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Claudia C P Paz
- Centro Avançado de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho 14174-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Nedenia B Stafuzza
- Centro Avançado de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho 14174-000, SP, Brazil
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