Hematological Parameters as Indicators for Litter size and Pregnancy Stage in Awassi Ewes
Main Article Content
Abstract
Physiological status and litter size can indeed have a significant impact on ewes' hematological parameters, which are essential indicators of their health. Therefore, this study examined the hematological profiles of ewes during pregnancy with single and twins in the Awassi ewes. The present study involved 232 ewes in good health and at sexual maturity. Among them, 123 ewes had single pregnancies, while 109 ewes had twin pregnancies. The age range of the ewes included in the study was between 3.5 and 4.5 years. Hematological tests were conducted on the sheep's blood samples promptly following collection. The findings demonstrated variations in hematological parameters among pregnant ewes, with differences based on litter size. Ewes carrying twin pregnancies exhibited significantly higher levels of red blood corpuscular, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration during pregnancy. In comparison to single-pregnant ewes, Awassi ewes with twin pregnancies displayed elevated counts of white blood cells, lymphocytes, granulocytes, and granulocyte percentage compared to ewes with single pregnancies. Awassi ewes with twin pregnancies also exhibited a strong positive correlation with the leukocytes and erythrocytes constituents. In conclusion, these findings indicate that litter size significantly influences hematological parameters, highlighting the importance of considering the physiological status and litter size as indicators of ewes' health. The findings have practical implications in sheep breeding and reproduction, as they can be utilized to enhance the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of related conditions.
Downloads
Article Details
How to Cite
References
Sodiq A, Yuwono P, Santosa SA. Litter size and lamb survivability of Batur sheep in upland areas of Banjarnegara Regency, Indonesia. Anim. Prod. 2011;13(3):166-172.
Ajafar MH, Kadhim AH, AL-Thuwaini TM. The reproductive traits of sheep and their influencing factors. Rev. Agric. Sci. 2022; 10:82-89. https://doi.org/10.7831/ras.10.0_82
Ekiz B, Özcan M, Yilmaz A, Ceyhan A. Estimates of phenotypic and genetic parameters for ewe productivity traits of Turkish Merino (Karacabey Merino) sheep. Turk J Vet Anim Sci. 2005;29(2):557-564.
Al-Thuwaini TM, Kareem ZA. Novel missense variant L46Q of fatty acid synthase gene and fatty acids content in Awassi sheep. Acta Sci Anim Sci. 2022; 44:e56273. https://doi.org/10.4025/actascianimsci.v44i1.56273
Bezerra LR, Oliveira WD, Silva TP, Torreão JN, Marques CA, Araújo MJ, Oliveira RL. Comparative hematological analysis of Morada Nova and Santa Inês ewes in all reproductive stages. Pesq. Vet. Bras. 2017;37:408-414. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0100-736x2017000400017
Khalif AT, Al-Thuwaini TM, Al-Shuhaib MB. Association of litter size with hematology parameters of Awassi Iraqi ewes. J. Kerbala Agric. Sci. 2020;7(2):20-26. https://doi.org/10.59658/jkas.v7i2.794
Owusu M, Abebrese AK, Adzitey F. Hematological Characteristics of ‘Djallonke’Sheep Reared at Ejura Sheep Breeding Station of Ghana. Vet. Res Int. 2016;4(3):106-109.
Al-Thuwaini TM. The relationship of hematological parameters with adaptation and reproduction in sheep; A review study. Iraqi J. Vet. Sci. 2021;35(3):575-80. https://doi.org/10.33899/ijvs.2020.127253.1490
Pieragostini E, Alloggio I, Petazzi F. Insights into hemoglobin polymorphism and related functional effects on hematological pattern in Mediterranean cattle, goat and sheep. Diversity. 2010;2(4):679-700. https://doi.org/10.3390/d2040679
Islam S, Rahman MK, Ferdous J, Hossain MB, Hassan MM, Islam A. Hematological reference values for healthy fat-tailed sheep (Dhumba) in Bangladesh. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res. 2018;5(4):481-484. https://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2018.e302
Oramari RA, Bamerny AO, Zebari HM. Factors affecting some hematology and serum biochemical parameters in three indigenous sheep breeds. Adv. Life Sci. Tech. 2014;21:56-63.
Arfuso F, Fazio F, Rizzo M, Marafioti S, Zanghì E, Piccione G. Factors affecting the hematological parameters in different goat breeds from Italy. Ann. Anim. Sci. 2016;16(3):743-57. https://doi.org/10.1515/aoas-2015-0094
Ahmed MN, Humide AO, Muhadi MJ. Hematological state of ewes injected with some mediators during postpartum and lactation period. J. Pharm. Sci. Res. 2018;10(8):1921-4.
Seixas L, Peripolli V, Façanha DA, Fischer V, Poli CH, Melo CB, Louvandini H, McManus CM. Physiological and hematological parameters of sheep reared in the tropics and subtropics. Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec. 2021; 73:622-30. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4162-12204
Yenilmez K, Arslan S, Kılıç S, Atalay H. The effect of twinship on selected hematological and biochemical parameters in late pregnant ewes. Med. Weter. 2021;77(11):541-545.
Habibu B, Kawu MU, Makun HJ, Aluwong T, Yaqub LS, Ahmad MS, Tauheed M, Buhari HU. Influence of sex, reproductive status and foetal number on erythrocyte osmotic fragility, haematological and physiologic parameters in goats during the hot-dry season. Vet. Med. 2014;59(10):479-490. https://doi.org/10.17221/7778-VETMED
Santarosa BP, Dantas GN, Ferreira DO, Hooper HB, Porto AC, Garcia SM, Surian SR, Pieruzzi PA, Silva AA, Gonçalves RC. Comparison of hematological parameters between single and twin pregnancies in Dorper ewes during gestation, lambing, and postpartum. Cienc. Rural. 2021;52. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20201065
Kenyon PR, Roca Fraga FJ, Blumer S, Thompson AN. Triplet lambs and their dams–a review of current knowledge and management systems. N.Z. J. Agric. Res. 2019;62(4):399-437. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288233.2019.1616568
Pesántez-Pacheco JL, Heras-Molina A, Torres-Rovira L, Sanz-Fernández MV, García-Contreras C, Vázquez-Gómez M, et al. Influence of maternal factors (weight, body condition, parity, and pregnancy rank) on plasma metabolites of dairy ewes and their lambs. Animals (Basel). 2019;9(4):122. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9040122
Khazaal NM, Alghetaa HF, Al-Shuhaib MB, Al-Thuwaini TM, Alkhammas AH. A novel deleterious oxytocin variant is associated with the lower twinning ratio in Awassi ewes. Anim. Biotechnol. 2022;1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/10495398.2022.2152038
Shaker MM. Effect of dietary aspirin on some blood biochemical parameters of broilers reared in high density. Iraqi J. Vet. Med. 2009;33(1):38-43. https://doi.org/10.30539/iraqijvm.v33i1.712
Hayder AZ. The Effect of Experimental Escherichia coli Infection on Some Blood Parameters and Histological Changes in Male Rats. Iraqi J. Vet. Med. 2011;35(2):22-27. https://doi.org/10.30539/iraqijvm.v35i2.571
Rahawy MA. Variations in the coding of melatonin receptor gene MTNR1A of Iraqi sheep breed. Iraqi J. Vet. Med. 2017; 41(1):98-103. https://doi.org/10.30539/iraqijvm.v41i1.89
Ismail MM. Some physiological and chemical properties of horse and cow blood samples under effect of some different types of anticoagulants. Iraqi J. Vet. Med. 2018;42(1):7-11. https://doi.org/10.30539/iraqijvm.v42i1.23
Khazaal NM, Alghetaa HF, Alkhammas AH, Al-Thuwaini TM, Javadmanesh A, Aljubouri TR, Al-Shuhaib MBS. One intron variant in the oocyte expressed protein (OOEP) gene is associated with twinning rate, prolificacy, and several body measurement traits in Awassi ewes. Small Rumin. Res. 2023;107008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2023.107008
Al-Ghetaa HFK. Effect of environmental high temperature on the reproductive activity of Awassi ram lambs. Iraqi J. Vet. Med. 2012;36(2):244-253. https://doi.org/10.30539/iraqijvm.v36i2.502
Abd Al-Rhman LY. Study the effect of ewe's pregnancy stages on blood parasitemia of some protozoa infections (Theileria hirci and Anaplasma marginale) and total, differential of white blood cells counts. Iraqi J. Vet. Med. 2009; 33(1):10-8. https://doi.org/10.30539/iraqijvm.v33i1.708
AL-Zwein DH. Effect of Coriander Seeds (Coriandrum Sativum) on Wool Growth and It's Traits and Some Haematological Traits of Awassi Ewes. Iraqi J. Vet. Med. 2010; 34(2):148-55. https://doi.org/10.30539/iraqijvm.v34i2.645
Al-Khafagi AM, Zainab RZ. Histopathological and diagnostic study of Toxoplasmosis in human and sheep by using ELISA in Kut city. Iraqi J. Vet. Med. 2016; 40(2):94-9. https://doi.org/10.30539/iraqijvm.v40i2.119
Research Animal Resource [RAR]. (2009). Reference values for laboratory animals: Normal haematological values. RAR Websites, RAR, University of Minnesota. Retrieved from http://www.ahc.umn.edu/rar/refvalues.html.
Oikonomidis IL, Brozos C, Kiossis E, Kritsepi‐Konstantinou M. Combined and breed‐specific RIs for hematologic, biochemical, and hormonal analytes in Chios and Florina adult rams. Vet. Clin. Pathol. 2018; 47(1):56-68. https://doi.org/10.1111/vcp.12558
Bamerny AO, Barwary MS, Alkass JE. Changes in some haematological and biochemical parameters in local black goats during pregnancy. Iraqi J. Agric. Sci. 2022; 53(2):378-84. https://doi.org/10.36103/ijas.v53i2.1545
Gravena K, Sampaio RC, Martins CB, Dias DP, Orozco CA, Oliveira JV, Lacerda-Neto JC. Hematological parameters of pregnant donkeys in different periods. Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec. 2010; 62:1514-6. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-09352010000600034
Soliman EB. Effect of physiological status on some hematological and biochemical parameters of Ossimi sheep. Egyptian J. Sheep & Goats Sci. 2014; 9(2):1-0.
Nurlatifah A, Khotijah L, Arifiantini RI, Maidin MS, Astuti DA. Change in hematology prepartum and postpartum of garut ewe fed with flushing diet contain lemuru oil. Earth Environ. Sci. 2022; 1020(1): 012005. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1020/1/012005