Seasonal And Regional Effects of Air Quality Index on Hematological Indices of Dogs Under Local Environmental Conditions In Pakistan

Abstract

Air pollution is found to have significant association with living health all over global world. Environment Protection Department of Punjab, Pakistan provides the monthly air quality index (AQI) data on air pollution with concentrated particulates like PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2 and O3. Air particulates concentrations may vary of season, regional geography and climate. We performed blood sampling of 45 dogs from different breeds (Labrador retrievers, German shepherds and Pit bulls) from three different areas categorized on basis of AQI as less polluted (Gulberg), polluted (Town Hall) and highly polluted (Shadman) in winter and spring seasons. Data were analysed using paired sample t-tests for seasonal study and independent sample t-tests for area and breed study by SPSS (P < 0.05 ascertained as significant). Seasonal study resulted that less polluted area had no significant effects on hematological indices in any three breeds of dogs in both seasons. Polluted area was presented with increased significant effects on values of monocytes in Labrador retrievers, Hct and MCHC in German shepherds while decreased significant effects on MCH value in Pit bulls in winter season as compared to spring season. Highly polluted area had significant effects with decreasing WBC counts only in German shepherds in winter season than spring season. This study concludes that polluted and highly polluted areas in winter season with worst AQI affects blood indices more than spring season in dogs.