Physiological Responses to Trauma-Haemorrhage (T/H) in Relation to Gender (Sex) in Adult Nubian Goats (Capra hircus)

Aims: The effects of gender and trauma-haemorrhage (T/H) on thermoregulation and blood constituents were investigated in adult Nubian goats.

Methodology: Twenty adult goats (10 males and 10 females) were used in the experiment. For each gender, animals were randomly assigned to two groups of 5 animals each, a control group and a treated group that was subjected to surgical soft tissue trauma (laparotomy) and 30% bleeding of calculated total blood volume. Thermoregulation, BW, haematological and serum biochemical parameters were monitored for 7 weeks.

Results: The results showed significant increases in RR (p<0.05) and HR (p<0.001) following T/H in treated groups. The females had significantly lower rectal temperature Tr (p<0.05) and higher heart rate HR (p<0.001) values in response to T/H. After T-H, the PCV and Hb concentration significantly (p<0.001) decreased in both treated groups until week 2, both parameters were lower (p<0.001) in females compared with males. The interaction between gender and T/H indicated lower (p<0.01) Hb concentration in the female group. The TLC values was increased significantly (p<0.001) in the female treated group after 6 hrs and at day 4 in the male treated group. The interaction between gender and T/H indicated higher (p<0.001) TLC in the female treated group. The ratios of lymphocytes decreased (p<0.001) and neutrophils increased (p<0.001) in treated groups compared with control groups until day 6. The interaction effects between gender and T/H indicated a lower (p<0.01) lymphocyte ratio and a higher (p<0.01) neutrophil ratio in the female treated group. Serum concentrations of total protein (p<0.001) and albumin (p<0.01) were significantly lower in T/H goats reflecting haemodilution and tissue catabolism. Following T/H, serum urea (p<0.01) and plasma glucose (p<0.001) concentrations were significantly higher in treated groups until day 2; and the females had significantly (p<0.001) higher glucose concentration compared with males.

Conclusions: Gender had marked effects on the responses to T/H. Female goats subjected to T/H had higher physiological responses compared to male treated goats.