Abstract

Transportation causes stress in livestock that may alter numerous physiological variables with a negative impact on production and health. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of road transport on oxidative stress biomarkers in camels. Ten Iranian dromedary camels were selected and subjected to a journey of approximately 300 km in a truck by road in August 2008. Blood samples were collected immediately before loading at 8:30 A.M., after 1 h transportation, at 9:30 A.M., and at the end of the journey after unloading at 1:30 PM. Final blood sample was taken 24 h after arrival. Plasma concentrations of malondialdehyde and ï¡-tocopherol, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and whole blood glutathione peroxidase activities were measured using validated methods.The mean concentration of MDA (1.87 ± 0.26 nmol/mL) and glutathione peroxidase activity (297.86 ± 25.68 U/g Hb) in basal pre-transport conditions show significant increase 24 h after arrival. The mean concentration of ï¡-tocopherol (5.22 ± 0.74 μmol/L) and superoxide dismutase activity (1742.5 ± 74.36 U/g Hb) in basal pre-transport conditions had no significant change during and after transportation.Results suggest that transport stress causes an oxidative challenge in dromedary camels and represent novel biomarkers for stress-associated disease susceptibility and welfare assessment. However, further research efforts should be directed towards understanding the role of particular antioxidants and oxidants on the stressful conditions.

Key words: Dromedary camel, road transportation, oxidative status, malondialdehyde, ï¡-tocopherol, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase.