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Assessing the impacts and mitigations of heat

stress in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix
japonica)
ARTICLE FEBRUARY 2015

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Basic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Review ISSN 2315-6880 Vol. 4(3) pp. 078-088 March 2015
Available online http//www.basicresearchjournals.org
Copyright 2015 Basic Research Journal

Full Length Research Paper

Assessing the impacts and mitigations of heat stress in

Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)
Radi A. Mohamed1*, Mohamed F. Abou Elazab2, Nagwan M. El-habashi3, Mabrouk R.
Elsabagh4, Mahmoud M. Eltholth5
1

Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine (Animal Behaviour and Welfare), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt.
2
Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt.
3
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt.
4
Department of Nutrition and clinical nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt.
5
Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine (Animal, Poultry and Environmental Hygiene), Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt.
*Corresponding author email: radiali_2007@yahoo.co.uk; Tel: +201004255067
Accepted 12 February, 2015

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to assess the impacts and potential mitigations of heat stress (HS) in
Japanese quails. In the first experiment, 75 birds were allocated into a control group (CG) and four
experimental (HS) groups. The CG was offered a basal diet and kept at 22 C. The heat stressed birds
were offered the basal diet plus either 5% onion (G1), 5% garlic (G2), or 2.5% garlic and 2.5% onion (G3)
and the basal diet (G4) and kept at 34C for 8 h/day for four weeks. In the second experiment, 60 birds
were allocated into CG and three HS groups. The CG was kept at 22C and reared under white light (WL).
The HS birds were offered the basal diet and reared under WL (G1), basal diet and subjected to blue
light (BL) (G2), basal diet, 5% garlic and BL (G3) and kept at 34C for 8 h/day for four weeks. There was
a significant decrease of tonic immobility and respiratory rate, WBCs and an increase in RBCs, Hb, PCV
and MCHC in CG, G1, G2, and G3 in the first experiment and CG, G2 and G3 in the second experiment.
Pathological changes that have been noticed in HS birds were alleviated almost completely in birds
feed on diet with garlic and partially in birds feed diet with onion. In conclusion, HS in quails could be
mitigated by adding garlic and/or onion to the diet, available and cheaper than other feed additives, and
rearing under BL.
Keywords: Heat stress, garlic, monochromatic light, onion, quail welfare

INTRODUCTION
In the last few decades global warming becomes one of
the major factors affecting production systems and
animal welfare (Konca et al., 2008). In poultry, heat
stress (HS) is one of the major causes that results in
production losses in terms of decreases in weight gain,
feed intake and feed efficiency and increased mortality
(Sahin et al., 2003, Sahin et al., 2004, Sahin et al., 2007,
Sahin et al., 2010). Heat stress in poultry not only affects

health status and welfare, but also declines survivability

as well as product quality (Mashaly et al., 2004, Bogin et
al., 1996, Sandercock et al., 2001). During summer
season, heat stress is considered as a major distress in
poultry husbandry and welfare especially in the hot
regions of the world. Behavioural and physiological
changes associated with HS may lead to changes in
broilers performance and reactivity (Geraert et al., 1996).

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Mohamed et al. 079

Table 1. Composition of the basic diet
Ingredients
Corn grains
Corn gluten meal (60% crude protein)
wheat bran
Soybean meal (44% crude protein)
Vegetable oil
Di-calcium phosphate
Limestone
Sodium chloride
Sodium bicarbonate
DL-Methionine
Lysine
Premix
Other additives
Calculated chemical analysis
DM
ME, Kcal/kg diet
CP
EE
CF
Ash
NFC
Ca
Avp.P

This may be associated with biochemical and

pathological consequences, which can potentially
promote the process of oxidative stress (Azad et al.
2010). Oxidative stress is one of the consequences of
HS, resulting in increased reactive oxygen species
production (ROS) and decrease serum and tissue levels
of antioxidant vitamins in poultry which play a role in the
antioxidant defence system (Halliwell and Gutteridge,
1989). Oxidative stress occurs from excess ROS
production, antioxidant depletion or both (Borisiuk and
Zinchuk, 1994). It impairs the cell membrane and
mitochondrial integrity (Meng et al., 2008) and causes
cell damage through lipid peroxidation (Halliwell and
Gutteridge, 1989). Heat stress adversely affects
performance and product quality of poultry. Broilers
exposed to an environmental temperature of 34C
showed a significant decrease in feed intake (Geraert et
al., 1996). These effects could be minimized by dietary
supplementation
of
antioxidant
vitamins
(Puthpongsiriporn et al., 2001; Sahin et al., 2001,
Franchini et al., 2002) or natural substances that possess
antioxidant potential (Sahin et al., 2008; Tuzcu et al.,
2008) with low cost and easy applicability. The medical
uses of garlic (Allium sativum) have a long history (Block,
1985) due to its antioxidant, immune-stimulant,
antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, antimutagenic, antiplatelet
and antihyperlipidemic properties (Harris et al., 2001,
Jamroz et al., 2005).
The Egyptian environment becomes hot in summer
with a temperature higher than 35 C. Most poultry farms
are not well equipped for mitigating HS, therefore
performance and production are affected. Moreover,
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 outbreaks have

%
51.5
7.0
2.5
32.0
2.0
1.8
2.0
0.18
0.33
0.15
0.04
0.3
0.2
90.00
2910
22.84
2.75
6.09
6.88
48.2
1.10
0.51

affected poultry industry in Egypt and consequently the

prices of poultry products become high (Abdelwhab and
Hafez, 2011). Quail production may compensate
production losses in poultry to some extent. Garlic and
onions have been used as feed additives for mitigating
HS in poultry and some other species (Ancsin et al.,
2013). The impacts and mitigations of heat stress on
quail in Egyptian environment are not well documented.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the
impacts of heat stress in quail welfare and how to
mitigate these impacts.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Birds, diets, experimental design and performance
One hundred and thirty five, six weeks old unsexed
Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) of similar
body weight were used and divided into nine groups,
three replicates each. All birds were reared on deep litter
floor with wheat straw as a bedding material. In this
study, two experiments were conducted. In the first
experiment (75 bird), birds were randomly assigned into
one control group and four experimental groups 15 bird
each. The control group was kept in a temperaturecontrolled room at 22C for 24 h/day. The experimental
groups were kept at 34C for 8 h/day (9 am5 pm)
followed by 16 h/d under normal environmental
temperature (heat stressed group). The control group
was offered a balanced basal diet (NRC, 1994) as
illustrated in Table 1. For assessing the impacts of
different feed additives as anti-stress, the heat stressed

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080. Basic Res. J. Agric. Sci. Rev.

birds were offered the basal diet plus 5% onion (G1), 5%

garlic (G2), a mixture of 2.5% garlic and 2.5% onion (G3)
and the basal diet (G4). For assessing the impact of
different lighting colours as anti-stress (the second
experiment, 60 bird), the control group (15 bird) was kept
at 22C for 24 h/day and reared under monochromatic
white light (WL) (400 to 700 nm). The heat stressed birds
were divided into 3 sub-groups 15 birds each; birds were
received the basal diet and reared under WL (G1), basal
diet and subjected to monochromatic blue light (BL) of
480 nm wave length (G2), basal diet, 5% garlic and BL
(G3). The amount of garlic and onion were calculated
based on the expected average daily feed intake, and
were finely chopped and offered to the birds as free
choice on a daily basis. The light schedule was constant
at 16L: 8D under 15 lx light intensity during the whole
entire experiment. The temperature was recorded three
times per day for each experiment.
Stress and fear indices
The duration of tonic immobility (TI) was measured for
each quail. The birds were taken to a separate room (no
visual contact with other birds) and subjected to TI
measurements. It was defined as the length of time
during which the bird remained immobile after it had been
held on its back for 10 s to induce the freezing reaction
(Hoekstra et al., 1998). Unnecessary noise or movement
was avoided. Direct eye contact between the observer
and the bird was avoided as it may prolong TI duration
(Jones, 1986). For practical reasons, the measure of TI
was terminated if the bird had remained immobile for 5
min (TI=300) or if it failed to remain at all immobile after
five attempts at inducing TI (TI=0). The number of
inductions required to perform TI was recorded.
Respiratory rate (RR) was recorded for 9 quails (3 birds
per replicate) by counting the number of thoracic
movement per minute visually (Kassirn and Norziha,
1995) for each treatment then the average RR per bird
was estimated. It was recorded inside the quails house.
Carful precautions to avoid unnecessary stress and noise
were applied.
Laboratory analysis
At the end of the experiment (four weeks), six birds (2
birds per replicate) were carefully euthanized via
exsanguination from a neck cut that severed the carotid
artery and jugular vein. This method is considered
humane when performed by a trained person (Gracey
1986). Blood samples (3 ml) for haematological
examination were taken from the vena basilica of the left

wing, and were collected in vacuum tubes with EDTA.

The samples were collected within 1 min of capture to
ensure that the levels of the monitored parameters were
not affected by any stress induced by pre-sample
handling. After necropsy, liver, kidney, brain, lung, heart
and spleen samples were collected and preserved in
formalin. Blood and organ samples were directly
transferred from the animal experimental house to the
laboratory for analysis.
Haematology
Red and white blood cell (RBC, WBC) counts were
performed using an improved Neubauer hemocytometer
and Natt and Herrick solution (Natt and Herrick, 1952) as
a special diluent for chicken's blood according to Harrison
and Harrison (1986). The haemoglobin concentration is
measured
spectrophotometrically
by
using
cyanomethemoglobin method after centrifugation removal
of free red cell nuclei and membrane debris. Haematocrit
(PCV) was determined using a micro-haematocrit
centrifugation (10,500 g for 5 min) and a micro-capillary
reader (Seiverd, 1983). The values found were used to
calculate
the
mean
corpuscular
haemoglobin
concentration
(MCHC),
the
mean
corpuscular
haemoglobin (MCH), and the mean corpuscular volume
(MCV).
Histopathological investigation
Organs were dehydrated and embedded in paraffin wax
by routine methods (Bancroft, et al., 1991). They were
then sectioned at 3 m, stained with haematoxylin and
eosin (HE), and examined by light microscopy.
Statistical analysis
Data were tested for distribution normality and
homogeneity of variance. Data were reported as means
and the pooled standard deviation (SD). Data were
analysed by one-way ANOVA using statistical package

Minitab software version 16. The significance of

difference among the different groups was evaluated by
Tukey test. The significance level was set at P<0.05.

Ethical approval
All experimental studies and handling of birds were in
accordance with animal welfare regulations at the Faculty
of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt.

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Mohamed et al. 081

Table 2. Effect of garlic and/ or onion supplementation on tonic immobility (TI) reactions and respiratory
rate (RR) in heat stressed quail.

TI induction
TI duration/S
Respiratory rate /Min

Control
group
1.67
b
67.22
d
44.33

Heat treated birds

G1
G2
2.33
1.44
b
b
68.56
71.56
c
bc
55.33
60.22

G3
2.44
b
69.11
b
64.11

G4
2.33
a
121.33
a
85.33

SD

P-value

0.87
7.96
5.97

0.061
<0.001
<0.001

G1 Basal diet with 5% onion, G2 Basal diet with 5% garlic, G3 Basal diet with 2.5% garlic and 2.5% onion
and G4 Basal diet, different superscriptions in the same raw indicate statistical significance (P<0.05)

Line chart 1: Correlation between respiratory rate (RR) and tonic immobility (TI) in heat
stressed quails supplemented with garlic and/or onion (P-value = 0.042).
Normal (CG), quails reared under normal room temperature and supplemented with basal
diet. HS (G1), quails reared under heat stress and supplemented with basal diet. Garlic
(G2), quails reared under heat stress and supplemented with basal diet and 5 % garlic.
Onion (G3), quails reared under heat stress and supplemented with basal diet and 5 %
onion. Mix.(G4), quails supplemented with 2.5 % garlic and 2.5 % onion.

RESULT
The first experiment
Stress and fear indices
There was a significant (p <0.05) decrease in TI duration
and RR (table 2) in groups of the quails subjected to HS
and fed rations supplemented with 5% onion (G1), 5%
garlic (G2), a mixture of 2.5% garlic and 2.5% onion (G3)
as a feed additives and control group compared to quails
that reared under HS and received basal diet (G4).
Regarding to TI inductions, there was no significant
difference (p <0.05) between all experimental groups.
The results also reflected that, there was a significant
positive correlation (figure 1) between TI duration and RR
among experimental groups.
Haematology
Effect of garlic and/or onion on some hematological

parameters in heat stressed Japanese quail: RBCs, Hb,

PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and WBCs were measured in
all groups (table 3). Firstly, the values of RBCs, Hb, PCV,
MCH, and MCHC of the Japanese quails exposed to heat
stress and supplemented with basal diet only were
significantly decreased when compared with those of the
control group (p<0.05). However, the values of MCV
values were significantly increased in Japanese quail
exposed to heat stress and supplemented with basal diet
only in comparison with those of the control group
(p<0.05). In contrast, heat stress had no significant
adverse effect on all these values in all groups of
Japanese quails exposed to heat stress and
supplemented with basal diet plus garlic and/or onion
(p>0.05). Furthermore, values of TLC were significantly
higher in Japanese quail exposed to heat stress and
supplemented with basal diet only in comparison with
those of the control group (p<0.05). While, there was no
significant difference between these values in all groups
of Japanese quails exposed to heat stress and
supplemented with basal diet plus garlic and/or onion
and control group (p>0.05).

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082. Basic Res. J. Agric. Sci. Rev.

Table 3. Effect of garlic and/ or onion supplementation on some haematological parameters of heat stressed
quails.
Blood parameter
6

RBCs (10 )
Hb (g/l)
PCV (l/l)
MCV (fl)
MCH (pg)
MCHC (%)
3
WBCs (10 )

Control group
a

3.03
a
119
a
0.524
173
39.24
a
22.70
b
24.45

Heat treated birds

G1
G2
a
a
2.76
2.88
a
a
121
123
a
a
0.518
0.538
189
188
43.92
42.76
a
a
23.26
22.78
b
c
26.55
21.95b

G3
a
2.75
a
117
a
0.510
186
42.74
a
22.94
ab
29.10

G4
b
2.24
b
82
b
0.426
190
36.72
b
19.42
a
34.65

SD

P-value

0.04
2.06
0.007
3.23
0.828
0.267
0.601

<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
0.469
0.065
0.001
<0.001

G1 Basal diet with 5% onion, G2 Basal diet with 5% garlic, G3 Basal diet with 2.5% garlic and 2.5% onion
and G4 Basal diet, different superscriptions in the same raw indicate statistical significance (P<0.05)

Plate1, Figure1. G1, liver showing vacuolar and

hydropic degeneration of the hepatocytes. H&E. X 200.

Plate 2, Figure 1. G1, kidney showing mild fatty change

of renal tubular cells and congestion. H&E. X 200.

Plate 3. Figure 1. G1, spleen showing normal

lymphocytic cells population in the white bulb H&E. X
200.

Histopathological findings
There were no observed pathological changes in the
examined organs including liver, kidney, brain, lung, heart
and spleen from the control group. Histopathological
findings of the experimental groups are summarised in
the following sub-sections.
Heat stressed group with 5% onion supplementation
(G1)
Liver showed vacuolar and hydropic degeneration of

hepatocytes (plate 1, Figure 1) in addition to mild

congestion and very mild perivascular mononuclear cells
infiltrations. The kidney revealed mild degree of
congestion together with very mild fatty change of renal
tubular epithelial cells (plate 2, Figure 1) in addition to
very mild hyaline casts; however, in some birds the
kidney was normal without any pathological changes.
The spleen showed normal lymphocytic cell population
(plate 3, Figure 1) like that of the control birds. The brain
showed mild congestion of the cerebral blood vessels,
and mild neuronal degeneration and necrosis. Lung
showed congestion varied from mild to moderate degree.
The heart revealed mild fatty change.

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Mohamed et al. 083

Plate 1, Figure 2. G2, liver showing mild fatty change.

H&E. X 200.

Plate 2, Figure 2. G2, kidney showing mild congestion and

hyaline casts (arrow) in renal tubular lumena. H&E. X 200.

Plate 3, Figure 2. G2, spleen showing normal

lymphocytic cells population in the white bulb H&E. X
200.

Heat stressed group with 5% garlic supplementation

(G2)
The liver showed alternative areas of perivascular
vacuolar and hydropic degeneration and fatty change in
very few birds however, some of the birds showed very
mild fatty change (plate 1, Figure 2), mild degree of
congestion in addition to very few foci of hepatic cell
necrosis infiltrated with mononuclear cells infiltrations and
in most of the other birds the liver was completely similar
to control bird. The kidney was normal except in few birds
showed mild congestion, hyaline casts (plate 2, Figure 2),
vacuolar and hydropic cell degeneration of renal tubular
epithelial cells together with mild focal mononuclear cells
infiltrations. The spleen showed normal lymphocytic
population (plate 3, Figure 2). The lung and heart were
normal like control birds. The brain showed mild neuronal
degeneration and necrosis in degree somewhat less than
G1.
Heat stressed group with mixed 2.5% garlic and 2.5 %
onion supplementation (G3)
The liver showed fatty change varied from moderate to
severe degree (plate 1, Figure 3) in some birds like that
observed in heat stressed birds. However, in other birds
alternative areas of fatty changes and perivascular
vacuolar and hydrpic degeneration were observed. In
some sections vacuolar degeneration was observed. The

kidney in few birds showed multiple interstitial

mononuclear cells infiltrations (plate 2, Figure 3) but in
some birds the kidney was normal like control except mild
mononuclear cells aggregations and mild renal tubular
cells fatty change. The spleen showed mild to moderate
lymphoid depletion (plate 3, Figure 3). The heart and lung
were normal. The brain showed more congestion,
neuronal degeneration and necrosis than those observed
in G1 and G2.
Heat stressed group with a basic diet (G4)
The liver showed severe congestion and advanced fatty
change (plate 1, Figure 4 below). Multiple foci of hepatic
cells necrosis (plate 1, Figure 5 below) infiltrated with
mononuclear cells were also observed. The kidney
revealed moderate fatty change and hydropic
degeneration of renal tubular cells, severe congestion,
mild to moderate necrosis of renal tubular cells (plate 2,
Figure 4 below) in addition to several foci of mononuclear
cells infiltrations together with mild hyaline droplet
degeneration. The spleen showed moderate to marked
lymphoid depletion as well as degeneration and depletion
of lymphoid follicles (plate 3, Figure 4 below). Marked
congestion was observed in the lung. Marked congestion
(plate 4, Figure 1 below), neuronal degeneration and
necrosis (plate 4, Figure 2 below) were observed in the
brain together with areas of softening and neuronal

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084. Basic Res. J. Agric. Sci. Rev.

Plate 1, Figure 3. G3, liver showing marked fatty change

. H&E. X 200.

Plate 2, Figure 3. G3, kidney showing interstitial

mononuclear cells. infiltration, congestion and degeneration
of renal tubules. H&E. X 200

Plate 3, Figure 3. G3, spleen showing marked

lymphoid depletion. H&E. X 200.

Plate 1, Figure 4. G4, liver showing marked fatty

necrosis and change. H&E. X 200.

Plate 1, Figure 5. G4, liver showing congestion,

fatty change of hepatocytes. H&E. X 200.

Plate 2, Figure 4. G4, kidney showing congestion, fatty

change and necrosis of renal tubular cells. H&E. X 200.

Plate 3, Figure 4. G4, spleen showing marked lymphoid

depletion and degeneration and depletion of lymphoid
follicles (arrow). H&E. X 200.
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Mohamed et al. 085

Plate4, Figure 1. G4, brain showing congestion of cerebral blood vessels. H&E. X 200. Figure 2. G4, the
brain showing neuronal degeneration and necrosis. H&E. X 200. Figure 3. G4, the brain showing neuronal
degeneration and vacuolation (arrow). H&E. X 400.

Table 2. Tonic immobility (TI) reactions and respiratory rate in heat stressed quail reared under
different monochromatic light and supplemented with basal diet with or without garlic
Control group Heat treated birds
SD
P-value
G1
G2
G3
TI induction
2.22
1.33
2.11
2.11
0.82
0.098
c
a
bc
b
TI duration/S
43.89
107.67
57.33
60.67
12.01
<0.001
c
a
b
b
Respiratory rate /Min
42.11
84.44
59.89
58.11
7.08
<0.001
G1 Basal diet and white light (WL), G2 Basal diet and blue light, G3 Basal diet with 5% garlic and
blue light (BL), different superscriptions in the same raw indicate statistical significance (P<0.05)

Line chart 2: Correlation between respiratory rate (RR) and tonic immobility (TI) in heat
stressed quail reared under different monochromatic light and supplemented with basal
diet with or without garlic (P- value = 0.027)
Normal (CG), quails reared under WL, normal room temperature and supplemented with
basal diet. HS (G1), quails reared under WL, heat stress and supplemented with basal
diet. BL (G2), quails reared under BL, heat stress and supplemented with basal diet. BL
and garlic (G3), quails reared under BL, heat stress and supplemented with basal diet and
5 % garlic.

basic diet and reared under BL (G2) and with those

reared under BL with 5% garlic as a feed additive (G3). In
which there was a significant decrease in TI duration and
RR (p<0.05) compared to quails that received basic diet

vacuolation (plate 4, Figure 3 below).

The second experiment
Stress and fear indices
Results in table 4 were observed in quails that received

and reared under WL (G1). There were no significant

differences (p <0.05) in the TI inductions between all
experimental groups. The results also reflected that,
there was a significant positive correlation (figure 2)

Published by Basic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Review

086. Basic Res. J. Agric. Sci. Rev.

between TI duration and RR among experimental

treatments.
DISCUSSION
High ambient temperature is of great concerns in all
types of poultry production. Severe HS adversely affect
feed intake, growth rate, hatchability, mortality, and other
important traits governing the success of the poultry
industry (Bartlett and Smith, 2003). A positive correlation
was
recently
established
between
dietary
supplementation with phytochemicals and the reduction
of detrimental effects of HS (Sahin et al., 2012). The aim
of this study was to assess the impacts of HS in quail and
how to mitigate these impacts. The results showed that,
HS resulted in significant detrimental effects in Japanese
quail and that dietary garlic and onion supplementation
offered a feasible way to improve welfare through the
reduction of clinicopathological changes. The alleviation
of clinicopathological changes was attributed to the
antioxidant properties of garlic and onions in several
studies. It was reported that long-term oral administration
of raw garlic homogenate caused a significant increase in
super oxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities of
rat heart. This was associated with a concomitant
decrease in lipid peroxidation (Banerjee et al., 2002).
long-term administration of garlic homogenate resulted in
simultaneous increase in SOD and catalase activities,
and this has a great importance than increase in SOD
activity alone, because without a concomitant increase in
catalase activity, increased SOD activity may lead to
intracellular accumulation of H2O2 (Yim et al., 1990) with
detrimental effects.
In the present study, rearing quails under HS, using 5%
garlic, 5% onion and a mixture of 2.5% garlic and 2.5%
onion as feed additives for mitigation of HS was
investigated. Also rearing of quails under HS with WL, BL
and BL with 5% garlic as feed additives was investigated
as methods for reducing the effect of HS and improving
welfare in quails. There was an increase in TI duration
and RR in quail exposed to the high ambient temperature
(Teeter et al. 1985, Akit et al. 2006). In this study, using
of 5% garlic, 5% onion and a mixture of 2.5% garlic and
2.5% onion, BL and BL with garlic as feed additives
significantly decreased TI duration and RR, indicating
that these supplements and BL alone or with 5% garlic
had the ability to alleviate the negative effects of the heat
stress. These results could be attributed to the effect of
garlic in reducing cortisol in blood (Ao et al. 2011) and the
calming effect of BL and the birds become less active
and less nervous (Prayitno et al. 1997, Mohamed et al.
2014). The behaviour during TI induction period was very
different between quails subjected to HS and those
treated by using garlic, onion, a mixture of garlic and
onion, BL and BL with garlic. Most of the HS quails
remained calm as soon as the induction began and lay

motionless until the end of the induction period. However

in the treated groups, quails struggled during induction,
some trying to escape even it were withholded by the
operator. The behaviour of quails during TI induction
under stressful conditions reported in the present study is
in agreement with previous study conducted by Eddy et
al. (1991). The behaviour of the quails during measuring
of RR in the group reared under HS, most of the birds
showed panting in both rest and locomotion. During
which the bird raised its heat upward, open its mouth,
and tried to gasp the air. At the same time, fewer birds
showed wing flapping. On the other hand, these signs
were not present in the other experimental groups. The
behaviour of quails during RR measuring under stressful
conditions reported in the present study is in agreement
with previous study conducted by Smith and Teeter
(1993).
Regarding the effect of heat stress on haematological
parameters of Japanese quails fed basal diet
supplemented with garlic and/or onion; firstly heat stress
significantly decrease RBCs , Hb, PCV, MCH, and MCHC
values in quails reared under HS and fed basal diet only
when compared with those of control group. While, MCV
values were increased in quails reared under HS and fed
basal diet only when compared with those of control
group. These findings were similar to Furlan et al.
(1999), Yahav et al. (1997), Borges et al. (1999),
Aengwanich (2002), Aengwanich and Chinrasri (2002)
and Aengwanich and Simaraks (2003). Aengwanich
(2002) found that when broilers were maintained at high
environmental temperatures, their MCV increased. He
suggested that after broilers had been exposed to high
heat, they were under vascular hemolysis. Therefore, the
MCV of birds at high environmental temperatures
increased more than the MCV of birds at thermoneutral.
The TLC values in the present study were higher than
the normal range in heat stressed Japanese quails fed
basal diet only when compared with those of control
group and supplemented groups. In general, when the
TLC increases than the normal range is consider
suggestive of leucocytosis. Stress is considered one of
the main causes of leucocytosis. Many studies revealed
that birds exposed to acute heat stress had significant
effect on lymphoid organs and pathophysiology of WBCs,
increased percentage of heterophils and monocytes as a
result of high plasma corticosteroids.
Histopathological changes in liver were advanced fatty
changes and multiple areas of hepatic cell necrosis. In
the brain, there were marked congestion, neuronal
degeneration, necrosis and vacuolation. In the spleen
and kidney, there were lymphoid depletion, fatty change
and necrosis of renal tubules. These changes were
alleviated almost completely with garlic and partially with
onion which may be due to antioxidant properties that
significantly correlated to total phenolics content as
reported by Benkeblia, 2005. It was found that, garlic
extract has the highest capability for scavenging radicals

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Mohamed et al. 087

(RAS) and inhibiting lipid peroxidation, while green onion

has the lowest one which significantly correlated to total
phenolics content (Benkeblia,2005). One of the most
important findings of this study is the alleviation of hepatic
steatosis induced by HS by garlic and onion
supplementation. Recent studies showed that, garlic byproduct, inhibits high fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis
and oxidative injury through LKB1-dependent AMPK
activation (Han et al., 2011). In rats, garlic reduced lipid
synthesis and influenced glycogen metabolism in the liver
(Chang and Johnson,1980). Dietary supplementation with
garlic extract might have promoted the catabolism of
glucose and/or fatty acid in rats (Saimei Mari, 2003)
similar to what observed in the present study. Dietary
garlic inhibited the synthesis of lipids in the liver and
increased the level of serum insulin, thereby lowering
serum glucose and increasing glycogen in liver. It was
suggested that the possible mechanism in hypoglycemia
was the enhancement of insulin level in blood (Saimei
Mari, 2003). Wang et al. (2007) demonstrated that heat
exposure could significantly increase the concentration of
serum cortisol which is involved mainly in carbohydrate,
lipid, and protein metabolism. On the other hand, garlic
can reduce cortisol in blood (Ao et al. 2011).
In conclusion, garlic and/or onion supplementation
ameliorated the clinical and histopathological changes
induced in Japanese quail kept under HS. Rearing
Japanese quail under monochromatic BL with or without
garlic supplementation reduced the stressful effects of
HS under Egyptian environmental conditions.
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