Ladakhi cattle is native population of Leh and Ladakh region and constantly exposed to hypobaric hypoxia over many generations. In present study, transcriptome signatures of cattle from Ladakh region (~5500 m) and Sahiwal cattle from tropical regions were evaluated using Agilent 44 K microarray chip. The top up-regulated genes in Ladakhi cows were INHBC, ITPRI, HECA, ABI3, GPR171, and HIF-1α involved in hypoxia and stress response. In Sahiwal cows, the top up-regulated genes eEF1A1, GRO1, CXCL2, DEFB3 and BOLA-DQA3 were associated with immune function and inflammatory response indicating their strong immune potential to combat the pathogens prevalent in the tropical conditions. The molecular pathways highly impacted were MAPK signaling, ETC, apoptosis, TLR signaling and NF- kB signaling pathway indicating signatures of adaptive evolution of these two cattle types in response to diverse environments. Further, qPCR analysis revealed increased expression of DEGs such as HIF-1, EPAS-1, VEGFA, NOS2, and GLUT-1/SLC2A1 in cattle types from high altitude suggesting their pivotal role in association with high altitude adaptation. Based on data generated, native cattle of Ladakh region was found to be genetically distinct from native cattle adapted to the tropical region of India.

Water is the wonder of nature which is an essential source of nutrient for all forms of life. It helps in proper digestion, energy metabolism, transport of nutrients and metabolites, cellular functions, and excretion of waste materials from our body and animals. Furthermore, water plays a vital role in body thermoregulatory and electrolyte health, and performance the fluidity and cushioning environment for the developing fetus in the human and animals. The quality of water determines the health and productivity of milk and their quality, as it causes bioaccumulation of water solutes in the milk and body tissues. Therefore, its quality has to be good for optimum health, and performance of dairy cattle. The high-altitude environments have limited surface and groundwater resources and more dependent on snow precipitations, very deep bore well groundwater, and mountain river. Recently, quality of high-altitude water resources has become questionable due to more environmental pollution, climate change, and high anthropogenic activities at high altitude. Therefore, there is a continuous requirement to monitor water quality, dairy product quality, and cattle health for prevention and control of waterborne diseases. This review reveals the water quality and the probable effects on the health performance of dairy cattle with a particular emphasis on high-altitude regions. From this review, it can be concluded that global warming and an increase in tourists at high-altitude regions have caused deterioration of water quality, which may affect the health, reproduction, and production of quality dairy products. This may lead to bioaccumulation of some toxic molecules and metals into higher food chain and affecting public health.

A total of seventy irrigation water samples were collected from Leh, Ladakh, India, to determine their hydrochemistry profile and water quality for irrigation purposes. Water quality indices such as total hardness (TH), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), potential salinity (PS), permeability index (PI), Kelly's ratio (KR), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), corrosivity ratio (CR), and chloroalkaline indices (CAI) were measured. The Piper diagram, Durov's diagram, and United States Salinity Laboratory (USSL) diagram were drawn to determine the water types, ion exchange processes, and rock–soil–water interaction. The findings indicated that the hydrochemical characteristics of irrigation water are naturally alkaline. Furthermore, water quality parameters revealed that the study area’s surface water is suitable for irrigation purposes, despite relatively high TH and MH levels. The level of CR indicated that water should not be transported using metal pipes. The CAI and Durov's plot indicated direct ionic exchange processes controlling water chemistry. Additionally, this irrigation water is mainly dominated by the Ca²⁺–Cl⁻–SO₄²⁻, Na⁺–K⁺–CaCO₃ + HCO₃⁻, and Na⁺–K⁺–Cl⁻ type, which indicates silicate rock weathering along with some anthropogenic input. The USSL salinity diagram indicated a medium salinity and low Na hazard. Hence, it is concluded that the rock weathering cycle is the natural source of all the cations and anions, and these ions pass directly from water to rock and vis-à-vis, along with some input of anthropogenic activity.

Identification of appropriate breeds of broilers and development of new feed additives is required for the development of poultry industry at high altitude. Therefore, this experiment was conducted first to identify the suitable broiler strain for this region. One week old chicks (150) from three broiler strains, i.e. Vencobb, RIR cross-bred, and Hubbard were randomly selected and divided equally into three groups. All the chicks were provided the same basal diet. The body weight gain and feed: gain responses were significantly (P < 0.05) improved in RIR cross-bred. Mortality was also observed lower in RIR cross-bred. Thereafter, the second trial was conducted in RIR cross-bred to evaluate the effect of probiotic supplementation (T1@ 9 gm/kg feed, T2@ 18 gm/kg feed) on their performance and mortality. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in weight gain, feed intake, feed: gain, and water intake among the three groups, however, mortality from ascites and coccidiosis was reduced in probiotic treated groups. Hence, our results suggest that RIR cross-bred is suitable for rearing in high altitude regions and probiotic supplementation has no beneficial effects on production performance of broilers at high altitude. However, probiotic supplementation indicated lesser loss due to mortality of birds.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pervasive organic compounds stemming from combustion processes and industrial activities, have raised significant concerns due to their ubiquitous presence in the environment and potential impact on human health. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the physiological effects of PAHs on diverse human body systems. Extensively studied for their respiratory toxicity, inhalation exposure to PAHs is associated with asthma, bronchitis, and impaired lung function. Moreover, certain PAHs are identified as carcinogens, heightening the risk of lung cancer. The cardiovascular system is also vulnerable to PAH exposure, as evidence suggests their contribution to oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction, pivotal in cardiovascular disease development. PAHs exhibit endocrine-disrupting properties, influencing hormone levels and disrupting reproductive health, correlating with fertility issues, adverse birth outcomes, and developmental abnormalities. Understanding PAH-induced toxicity mechanisms is crucial for developing mitigation strategies. PAHs can directly interact with cellular components, modulate gene expression, induce oxidative stress, and cause DNA damage, leading to cellular dysfunction and apoptosis. This review underscores the ongoing need for research to fully elucidate the physiological effects of PAH exposure on human health. By synthesizing current knowledge, it aims to raise awareness of potential health risks associated with PAHs and stress the importance of preventive measures to reduce exposure. Ultimately, a comprehensive understanding of PAH-induced physiological impacts will inform the development of effective interventions and policies to safeguard human health in environments where PAH contamination is prevalent. Graphical Abstract