Effect of Heat Stress on Humoral Immunity and its Amelioration by Amla Powder (Emblica officinalis) Supplementation in Buffaloes

The effect of amla powder supplementation on heat stress and immunoglobulin (Ig) levels of summer stressed buffaloes were investigated. The study was carried out with 24 apparently healthy Murrah buffaloes during pre-summer and summer seasons. The animals were divided into 3 groups of 8 animals each viz. Pre-Summer group (Group I); Summer Control group (Group II); Summer Treatment group (Group III). Group III animals were supplemented with amla powder @ 200 mg/Kg body wt./day for 30 days. In summer stressed buffaloes (Group II), there was a significant rise in erythrocytic lipid peroxidation level and superoxide dismutase activity along with a decrease in plasma IgM and increase in IgG levels. Supplementation of amla powder to summer stressed buffaloes was able to lower lipid peroxidation levels and superoxide dismutase activity coupled with the increase in IgM and decrease in IgG levels. It was concluded that amla powder supplementation can ameliorate the adverse effects of summer stress on humoral immunity in Murrah buffaloes.