Seasonal variation affects biochemical and immunological traits of various rural backyard poultry under tropical climatic conditions of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Abstract

The performance and productivity in poultry flocks are affected by climate change, especially in tropical islands. This study has been designed to understand the impact of two major seasons viz. summer (February-June) and rainy (July-September) on biochemical and immunological traits in three backyard poultry breeds viz. Desi (non-descript indigenous), Nicobari Fowl, and Vanaraja of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, for the first time. Ninety adult poultry birds were randomly selected from three different rural villages of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands including Desi (D, n = 30), Nicobari Fowl (NF, n = 30) and Vanaraja (V, n = 30). Ten birds each of D, NF and V from each village (sex ratio− 1:1) were chosen for the study. Serum samples collected (n=/bird/season/ breed) from the three breeds were analysed. The study revealed that season had significant effect on biochemical parameters, i.e. serum albumin (p < 0.0001), globulin (p < 0.01), ALP (p < 0.05), total bilirubin (p < 0.05) and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (p < 0.05). Moreover, season had significant effect on immune parameters i.e. IL−2 (p < 0.0001), IL−4 (p < 0.0001), IL−6 (p < 0.0001&p < 0.05), HSP−70 (p < 0.0001&p < 0.01), TLR−4 (p < 0.01&p < 0.05) and INF-γ (p < 0.0001). It was observed that breed had significant effect on total bilirubin (D-V & NF-V, p < 0.0001), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (NF-V, p < 0.01 &D-V, p < 0.05). And also had significant effect on. IL−2 (D-NF, p < 0.001 &NF-V, p < 0.01), IL−4 (D-NF& D-V, p < 0.0001;NF-V, p < 0.05; D-V&NF-V, p < 0.01), IL−6 (D-NF & D-V, p < 0.0001), HSP−70 (D-NF & D-V, p < 0.0001; D-NF p < 0.01; NF-V, p < 0.05), and INF-γ (D-NF & D-V, p < 0.0001&D-NF, p < 0.05). This study could establish the seasonal influence on biochemical and immunological traits of rural backyard poultry breeds in tropical climate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.