title: Evaluation of physiological and biochemical responses in different seasons in Surti buffaloes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of hot dry, hot humid and comfortable season on physiological, hematological, biochemical, and oxidative stress parameters in Surti buffaloes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten lactating Surti buffaloes of similar physiological status were selected. Based on the temperature-humidity index (THI), their natural exposure to the environment was categorized as hot dry (THI1), hot humid (THI2) and moderate winter/comfort season (THI3). Blood/serum samples were collected and analyzed for physiological, hematological, biochemical, and oxidative stress parameters. The results were analyzed using standard statistical methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With increase in THI, significant rise in physiological parameters such as respiration rate (RR), hematological parameters such as red blood cell (RBC), hematocrit, hemoglobin (Hb) and mean cell Hb concentration (MCHC), biochemical parameters such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Na, K, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, Mn, Cu and Zn, hormones such as cortisol and oxidative stress parameters such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxide (LPO) and total antioxidant status (TAS) and significant decline in glucose, cholesterol and triiodothyronine (T3) was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that THI is a sensitive indicator of heat stress and is impacted by ambient temperature more than the relative humidity in buffaloes. Higher THI is associated with significantly increased RR, total RBC count, Hb, hematocrit, MCHC, ALT, urea, sodium, creatinine, triiodothyronine, SOD, GPx, LPO and TAS and with significant decrease in glucose, cholesterol and triiodothyronine (T3).
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Vanbandhu College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Navsari Agricultural Univesrity, Navsari - 396 450, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Sandhya S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Vanbandhu College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Navsari Agricultural Univesrity, Navsari - 396 450, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Virendra Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Division of Dairy Cattle Physiology, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal - 132 001, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Ramesh C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Upadhyay
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Vanbandhu College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Navsari Agricultural Univesrity, Navsari - 396 450, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Gopal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Puri
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Vanbandhu College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Navsari Agricultural Univesrity, Navsari - 396 450, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Arjun B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Odedara
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Vanbandhu College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Navsari Agricultural Univesrity, Navsari - 396 450, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Pankaj A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Patel
keywords: biochemical; heat stress; physiological; surti buffalo; temperature humidity index