| Author(s) | A. Al-Haidary |
| Affiliation | Department of Animal Production, College of Food Sciences and Agriculture, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11455, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| Title | Effect of Dehydration on Core Body Temperature of Young |
| Source | Journal of King Saud University. Agricultural Sciences. Volume 18, No 1. (2006/1426) |
| Abstract | Six female Arabian camels (340 ±16.6 kg BW) were used to investigate the effect of dehydration on core body temperature (Tcore) and some blood constituents. The experiment was performed during summer (38.3 ± 0.29 oC and 40.0% RH) in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia. Ten days prior to the initiation of the experiment, all camels were surgically implanted intraperitoneally with telemetric temperature transmitters for continuous monitoring of Tcore. The study lasted 6 weeks and was divided into three periods: the first four weeks represented a preliminary period. Measurements were taken during the fifth week, which is referred to as the “control period”, and the sixth week, which is designated the “dehydration period”. During the latter period, water was withheld for four days. Blood samples were collected and the concentrations of glucose, total protein, albumin, Na+, K+and Ca2+, plasma osmolality and packed cell volume (PCV) were determined. Dehydration during exposure to heat stress affected the Tcore of these camels. This effect was not significant during the first 24 hours following water deprivation, but from 32 hours onward, Tcore increased significantly until the termination of the study. The circadian rhythm of the dehydrated camels revealed that Tcore could fluctuate only by 1.3oC. This increase in Tcore during dehydration was associated with significant increases in total protein, albumin, PCV, Na+ concentrations and osmolality but glucose comcentration was significantly decreased. These findings indicate that, similar to other species of farm animals, the camel is a homeotherm, capable of maintaining its body temperature during dehydration with relatively little daily fluctuations in Tcore. |
