Heat Stress and Histopathological Changes of Vital Organs: A Novel Approach to Assess Climate Resilience in Farm Animals
, Mullakkalparambil Velayudhan Silpa 2 and Frank R. Dunshea 3,4
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This is a compilation of many reports describing histopathological changes associated with heat stress in food animals. It does not, as the title would suggest, describe a novel approach. While it is useful to identify these markers, they tell us very little without further knowledge of variation in the intensity and duration of heat stress, nor confounding factors like season, nutrition, reproductive state.
Moreover, the animals that are most tolerant to heat are those whose physiological and behavioural responses are such as to minimise the impact on the markers described. I suggest therefore that you have embarked on a diligent search for answers to the wrong questions.
This paper may just be publishable as a review of histological and biochemical changes associated with heat stress. It does not offer a novel approach to selection.
Author Response
Response statement
Reviewer 1
Query 1: This is a compilation of many reports describing histopathological changes associated with heat stress in food animals. It does not, as the title would suggest, describe a novel approach. While it is useful to identify these markers, they tell us very little without further knowledge of variation in the intensity and duration of heat stress, nor confounding factors like season, nutrition, reproductive state. Moreover, the animals that are most tolerant to heat are those whose physiological and behavioural responses are such as to minimise the impact on the markers described. I suggest therefore that you have embarked on a diligent search for answers to the wrong questions.
Response: We agree to this critical points raised by this reviewer. However we differ in our opinion that there is complete paucity of information on the various factors listed by this reviewer. We clearly indicated heat stress in review title. As heat stress is the predominant factor arising due to climate change which has direct impact on livestock production and survival. We indicated novel approach as in our opinion this is the first review, which clearly explains the various biomarkers related to histopathological changes as a result of heat stress in livestock. By understanding these changes it is possible to differentiate between adapted and non-adapted breeds. This approach could help to identify climate resilient breeds.
Query 2:This paper may just be publishable as a review of histological and biochemical changes associated with heat stress. It does not offer a novel approach to selection
Response: As explained earlier we still believe it is a novel approach to assess climate resilience through the identified biomarkers. Further the generated information in this review could serve as baseline information for further such research to assess climate resilience in livestock. Moreover, the other two reviewers did not question our approach to claim this as a novel approach. Therefore we would like to stick to the same title which could attract readership for this manuscript.
Reviewer 2 Report
The review manuscript "Heat stress and histopathological changes of vital organs: a novel approach to assess climate resilience in farm animals" by Ebenezer Binuni Rebez et al. reviewed the adaptive and productive organs response to heat stress, and may help in developing concepts to combat the detrimental consequences of heat stress to ensure sustainability in livestock production. My main concerns and suggestions are listed as follows:
(1) The defination of adaptive organs and climate resilience should be well described, as it appeared many times and played vital roles in this constructive manuscript.
(2) 3. Significance of heat stress to livestock production: there many recent articles described and investigated the effects of heat stress on livestock production (e.g., growth performance, meat quality in various animals), please check and provide a detailed description.
(3) As the whole manuscript stated, heat stress may also influence microbiota, and at least the the microbiota response to heat stress should be mentioned.
(4) Line 461, 6. Heat stress-associated histopathological changes in adaptive organs in Livestock. Why the adaptive organs should be listed as a single section to mention?
(5) Line 676, Figure 2: Overview of heat stress-related biomarkers in productive and adaptive organs of live-stock, the animal type around, any special means? or only for that animal?
Author Response
Response statement
Reviewer 2
Query 1: The review manuscript "Heat stress and histopathological changes of vital organs: a novel approach to assess climate resilience in farm animals" by Ebenezer Binuni Rebez et al. reviewed the adaptive and productive organs response to heat stress, and may help in developing concepts to combat the detrimental consequences of heat stress to ensure sustainability in livestock production.
Response: We thank the reviewer for his positive comments
Query 2: The definition of adaptive organs and climate resilience should be well described, as it appeared many times and played vital roles in this constructive manuscript.
Response: We appreciate the reviewer for his comments and accordingly both these aspects were defined clearly in the introduction section of the manuscript
Query 3: Significance of heat stress to livestock production: there many recent articles described and investigated the effects of heat stress on livestock production (e.g., growth performance, meat quality in various animals), please check and provide a detailed description.
Response: We agree to this critical point raised by the reviewer and accordingly the details on heat stress impacts on growth performance and meat quality in farm animals.
Query 4:As the whole manuscript stated, heat stress may also influence microbiota, and at least the microbiota response to heat stress should be mentioned
Response: We agree to this point raised by the reviewer and accordingly we included a paragraph describing the microbiota response to heat stress.
Query 5: Line 461, 6. Heat stress-associated histopathological changes in adaptive organs in Livestock. Why the adaptive organs should be listed as a single section to mention?
Response: We like to clarify that the heat stress associated histopathological changes with the adaptive organs should be grouped together to understand easily the various changes of these organs. This approach could be very useful to assess the differences in climate resilience between the livestock breeds.
Query 6: Line 676, Figure 2: Overview of heat stress-related biomarkers in productive and adaptive organs of live-stock, the animal type around, any special means? or only for that animal?
Response: We like to clarify that the biomarkers listed are common to all livestock species. This explanation was included in the figure 2 legend.
Reviewer 3 Report
Dear authors,
I congratulate you on your interesting review paper on heat-induced histopathological changes in tissues, knowledge of which is of strategic importance for assessing climate resilience in livestock. The article is well written, enriched by two clear synoptic illustrations and I think it could be of interest to a wide range of researchers. However, I recommend that you check the bibliography carefully as it contains many errors, especially in the journal abbreviations.
Best regards
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line
694-696 “Conclusion” in Table 2
Author Response
Response Statement
Reviewer 3
Query 1: I congratulate you on your interesting review paper on heat-induced histopathological changes in tissues, knowledge of which is of strategic importance for assessing climate resilience in livestock. The article is well written, enriched by two clear synoptic illustrations and I think it could be of interest to a wide range of researchers.
Response: We thank the reviewer for his nice encouraging comments on our manuscript
Query 2: However, I recommend that you check the bibliography carefully as it contains many errors, especially in the journal abbreviations.
Response: We thank the reviewer for this critical point and accordingly we thoroughly checked the reference section for the appropriateness.
Query 3: line 694-696 “Conclusion” in Table 2
Response: This mistake was rectified in the revised manuscript
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
This review of heat stress markers has been extended but still lacks a coherent analysis of the physiology of heat tolerance or a set of priorities for selection of markers to address problems in practice.
Reviewer 2 Report
The revised manuscript has improved a lot, I think it is ready for publication! Good luck!
