Effect of short-term mild salinity stress on physiological and hematological parameters in sheep

Contamination of water through salinization will affect the well-being of livestock. Therefore, it is necessary to understand how animals respond to increasing levels of salts in their water supply. This short communication describes the effects of a two-week salinity stress (0, 6, 12 g L − 1 NaCl) on Pelibuey sheep. The parameters measured in response to salinity stress were animal weight, rectal temperature, and levels of hemoglobin, hematocrits, lymphocytes, neutrophils, leukocytes and proteins. Specific activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in blood samples were also recorded. The results showed that the 6 g L − 1 NaCl treatment resulted in the significantly highest body weight. There were no significant differences in the rectal temperature of animals. In terms of the hematological parameters, animals exposed to 6 g L − 1 NaCl displayed the significantly highest hemoglobin and hematocrit contents. There appeared to be no effect of consumption of saline water on the amount of lymphocytes, neutrophils, leukocytes or proteins. It was found that animals that consumed 12 g L − 1 NaCl supplemented water had the lowest levels of SOD activity. There were no significant differences in CAT specific activities in animals exposed to the saline water or the control. This is the first report on the response of Pelibuey sheep to short-term saline stress under Cuban environmental conditions.