Climate change, especially heat stress, has a major impact on the sustainability of livestock production. Heat stress is caused by a combination of temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation that exceeds an animal's ability to thermoregulate. Heat stress leads to a reduction in feed intake and growth rate, lower production of milk, meat and eggs, and a decrease in reproductive performance of the animals. Despite improved management to increase the resilience of livestock to heat over the last three decades, the dramatic increase in the intensity and frequency of heat waves due to climate change has increased the complexity of the negative impacts of heat stress on livestock health and production.
Although heat stress impairs various functions of the immune system, the underlying mechanisms that govern cell-mediated and humoral immune dysfunctions in response to heat stress are inadequately characterized. This is because heat stress leads to significant changes in metabolism and modulates the functions of the highly interconnected nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Besides, animal-related factors such as species, breed, productivity, age, physiological stage, metabolism rate, and thermoregulatory mechanisms determine the impact and severity of heat stress on immune response and health status. Therefore, identifying the underlying mechanisms by which heat stress impairs essential immune system functions and predisposes animals to various diseases is pivotal to increase the resilience of the immune system to heat stress and minimize the incidence of health disorders in livestock. All studies that provide insight into the underlying mechanism that govern these processes are welcomed in this issue. Environmental management (ventilation, sprinkling, shading, etc.), and administration of feed supplements (vitamins, minerals, probiotics, essential oils, etc.) to eliminate or reduce the negative impact of heat stress on immune responsiveness and to enhance the animals' welfare and production are also welcomed.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Reviews, and Mini-Reviews on different aspects of heat stress and immune responses in livestock such as cattle, small ruminants, camels, and poultry including, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
- Mechanisms of heat stress-induced modulation of innate and adaptive immune responses.
- Impact of heat stress on persistence and survival of pathogens, the geographical range and abundance of vectors, and subsequent impact on immune responses in livestock.
- Animal-related factors that determine the influence of heat stress on the immune response.
- Oxidative stress-induced impairment of immune responses and the role of antioxidant compounds in the regulation of immune cell functions.
- Genetic selection of heat resilience breeds to enhance immunity to infection or vaccination without compromising production.
- Implementing management, acclimation, and nutritional strategies to mitigate the negative effects of heat stress and improve the health and welfare of livestock.
Climate change, especially heat stress, has a major impact on the sustainability of livestock production. Heat stress is caused by a combination of temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation that exceeds an animal's ability to thermoregulate. Heat stress leads to a reduction in feed intake and growth rate, lower production of milk, meat and eggs, and a decrease in reproductive performance of the animals. Despite improved management to increase the resilience of livestock to heat over the last three decades, the dramatic increase in the intensity and frequency of heat waves due to climate change has increased the complexity of the negative impacts of heat stress on livestock health and production.
Although heat stress impairs various functions of the immune system, the underlying mechanisms that govern cell-mediated and humoral immune dysfunctions in response to heat stress are inadequately characterized. This is because heat stress leads to significant changes in metabolism and modulates the functions of the highly interconnected nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Besides, animal-related factors such as species, breed, productivity, age, physiological stage, metabolism rate, and thermoregulatory mechanisms determine the impact and severity of heat stress on immune response and health status. Therefore, identifying the underlying mechanisms by which heat stress impairs essential immune system functions and predisposes animals to various diseases is pivotal to increase the resilience of the immune system to heat stress and minimize the incidence of health disorders in livestock. All studies that provide insight into the underlying mechanism that govern these processes are welcomed in this issue. Environmental management (ventilation, sprinkling, shading, etc.), and administration of feed supplements (vitamins, minerals, probiotics, essential oils, etc.) to eliminate or reduce the negative impact of heat stress on immune responsiveness and to enhance the animals' welfare and production are also welcomed.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Reviews, and Mini-Reviews on different aspects of heat stress and immune responses in livestock such as cattle, small ruminants, camels, and poultry including, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
- Mechanisms of heat stress-induced modulation of innate and adaptive immune responses.
- Impact of heat stress on persistence and survival of pathogens, the geographical range and abundance of vectors, and subsequent impact on immune responses in livestock.
- Animal-related factors that determine the influence of heat stress on the immune response.
- Oxidative stress-induced impairment of immune responses and the role of antioxidant compounds in the regulation of immune cell functions.
- Genetic selection of heat resilience breeds to enhance immunity to infection or vaccination without compromising production.
- Implementing management, acclimation, and nutritional strategies to mitigate the negative effects of heat stress and improve the health and welfare of livestock.