Response to heat stress for small ruminants: Physiological and genetic aspects

• Published in: Livestock science Vol. 263; p. 105028
• Main Authors: McManus, Concepta M., Lucci, Carolina Madeira, Maranhão, Andrea Queiroz, Pimentel, Daniel, Pimentel, Felipe, Rezende Paiva, Samuel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-09-2022
• Subjects: Biological processes; Capra hircus; Molecular functions; Ovis aries; Oxidative stress; Physiology; Capra hircus; Oxidative stress; Molecular functions; Physiology; Ovis aries; Biological processes
• ISSN: 1871-1413; 1878-0490
• DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2022.105028

•Small ruminant´s response to heat stress is complex.•Traits involved include physical, physiological and metabolic.•Several gene pathways are up and down regulated in this response.•Genes and traits identified may be candidates for biomarkers in selection programs.
As the expectation of the influence of climate change scenarios increases, the effect of heat stress on small ruminants is significant due to their importance for smallholders in stressful environments. This article reviews the physical, physiological, metabolic, genes (N=126) and genetic pathways that affect heat stress response in sheep and goats. Molecular functions (N=304) linked to cytokine, growth factor, hormone and ATPase activity, as well as binding proteins, ATP, DNA, metal ions were prevalent in these analyses. As for biological processes (N=1803), gene expression and regulation, cell differentiation, apoptotic processes, cytokine pathways and inflammatory responses are important. Biological processes were centred on regulation, positive/negative, cell, signals, processes, proteins and pathways, while molecular functions included binding, DNA/RNA, protein, factors and activity. This review will contribute to have a better understanding of the complex animal´s response to heat stress and it should support scientific groups to delineate new studies as well to stimulate the generation of more data towards the development of strategies and methods to reach more sustainable animal production systems.