Volume 15, Issue 1: 2025 - Article 170

Abstract
The use of petrol fuelled electric power generators (PFEPGs) is common in electric power-deficient regions, and contributes significantly to increase in ambient air pollution, morbidity and mortality. This study investigated the effects of exposure of dogs to exhaust fumes from PFEPG on blood cellular elements, serum biochemistry and heart, lungs, bronchial lymph nodes (BLN), spleen, liver and kidney tissues. Sixteen dogs, randomly assigned to four groups of four dogs each were used for the study. Group A served as the unexposed control, while Groups B, C and D dogs were exposed to exhaust fumes from PFEPG for 1, 2 and 3 hours daily, respectively, for 90 days. Haematology and serum biochemistry tests were done on blood samples collected from the dogs on days 0, 30, 60 and 90 of the study. Afterwards, the dogs were humanely sacrificed and tissues from selected organs were processed for histopathology. Results showed that exposure to exhaust fumes from PFEPG led to significantly (p < 0.05) higher red blood cell counts and packed cell volume and significantly (p < 0.05) lower haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, total white blood cell, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts. Serum activity of alkaline phosphatase and levels of albumin, urea and creatinine were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the exposed dogs, while their serum globulin levels were significantly (p < 0.05) lower. These recorded effects were related to the duration and degree of exposure. Histopathology revealed carbon particle deposits in the lungs and BLN, necrotic and inflammatory changes in the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. These pathophysiological changes highlight the health risks of such exposure of animals and possibly humans to exhaust fumes from PFEPGs.

Keywords: Petrol fuelled electricity generator; Exhaust fumes; Dogs; Blood; Organ toxicity.

How to cite this article:
Eke IG, Anakwue RC, Eze UU, Oguejiofor CF, Anyogu DC, Onyejekwe OB, Udeani IJ, Anaga AO and Anene BM (2025). Exposure of dogs to exhaust fumes from petrol fuelled electricity generator: Effects on blood and selected body organs. Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 15(1): 842 – 862.


*Correspondence: E-mail:     ifeanyi.eke@unn.edu.ng      Phone: +2348037494699

Exposure of dogs to exhaust fumes from petrol fuelled electricity generator: Effects on blood and selected body organs
Ifeanyi G. Eke ^{1 *}, Raphael C. Anakwue ², Ukamaka U. Eze ³, Chike F.  Oguejiofor ⁴, Davinson C. Anyogu ⁵, Obinna B. Onyejekwe ⁶, Ikechukwu J. Udeani ⁷, Aruh O. Anaga ¹ and Boniface M. Anene ^3
1 Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
² Department of Medicine, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State Nigeria.
³ Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State Nigeria.
⁴ Department of Veterinary Obstetrics and Reproductive Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State Nigeria.
⁵ Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State Nigeria.
⁶ Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State Nigeria.
⁷ Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State Nigeria.

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