Effects of Transportation Stress during the Hot-Dry Season on Some Haematological and Physiological Parameters in Moroccan Dromedary Camels （Camelus dromedarius）

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of road transportation under heat conditions on some haematological [Ht （haematocrit）, blood cells count and EOF （erythrocytes osmotic fragility）] and physiological [Tr （rectal temperature）, HR （heart） and RR （respiratory rates）, and circulating levels of Cor （cortisol）, Glu （glucose） and minerals] parameters in Moroccan dromedary camels. The animals were subjected to road transportation stressor for 2 h by truck during the hot-dry season. Blood samples were collected before loading and transport, and at the end of transport. Transportation induced a significant increase （P 〈 0.05） of erythrocytes count, Ht, EOF, Tr, HR and RR by comparison to values observed before transportation. The same stress conditions induced a significant increase （P 〈 0.05） of plasma Cor （ng/mL） and blood Glu （mM） （220 ± 30 vs. 137 ± 20, 9.7 ± 1.2 vs. 6.4 ± 1. 1 respectively） and a significant decrease （P 〈 0.05） of plasma magnesium （mM） （0.5 ± 0.1 vs. 0.9 ± 0.1） comparatively to pre-transportation values. These results indicate that road transportation associated to heat may be considered as a potent stressor which is able to induce several cellular alterations in camels. Further studies of an eventual protective role of vitamin C against haemolysis induced by transportation stress in camel are needed.