Evaluation of stress responses induced by the loading density in dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius)

The intensity of stress depends on several external factors, such as distance and conditions of transport, climate change, the nature of the journey and the vehicle used, etc. Our research aims to study the effect of loading density on certain physiological, hematological, biochemical and hormonal parameters in camels. Sixteen male animals belonging to the municipal slaughterhouse of Casablanca (west of Morocco) were divided into two groups of 8 camels to study the effect of 2 loading densities: 1camel/2-3.6 m2 (Group I) and 1camel/1.44-1.80 m2 (Group II). Hct, NLR, H% and biochemical parameters were analyzed in our laboratory (LPGM) at the Ben M'Sik Faculty of Sciences in Casablanca, while the hormones were analyzed by radioimmunology at the National Center of Energy, Sciences and Nuclear Techniques of Maâmoura, Morocco. In Groups I and II, rectal temperature, heart and respiratory rates, hemolysis, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and plasma levels of Glu, COR, T3 and T4 showed a significant increase (P<0.05) at the end of transport just after unloading by comparison to those measured before loading and transport. All these parameters were significantly (P