Physiohaematological observations in West African dwarf goats with Natural infection of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR)

Background: Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a contagious viral disease of small ruminants. It is the number one killer viral disease of sheep and goats and it is endemic in Nigeria.  Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the haematological and physiological changes in experimentally infected West African Dwarf (WAD) goats in Nsukka area, Enugu State Nigeria.  Method: 20 adult WAD goats were used for this study. Blood collected into bottles without anticoagulant were used for complement ELISA and haemagglutination inhibition test while the blood collected with anticoagulant was used to carry out tests for Total white blood cell count, differential white blood count, Haemoglobin (Hb) and Packed cell volume (PCV) determination. The major physiological parameters were obtained.  Results: Haematological examination of infected animals revealed a decrease in lymphocyte, neutrophil and white blood cell counts in the goats. There was significant (P<0.05) and progressive increase in the packed cell volume before the infection, through the early infection to late infection. There was no significant (P<0.05) changes in haemoglobin concentration, percentage number of lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes and basophils. There was also diurnal variation in temperature, heart rates and respiratory rates. The temperature of the animals falls within the normal physiology range except in days, 1517 post infection, when the rectal temperatures were obviously subnormal.  Conclusion: Results of this study indicated that natural infection with PPR in goats provide valuable data about haematological findings and physiological parameter changes that can be used for diagnosis of PPR and this would provide a quick reference to researchers seeking to understand the current state of knowledge about this devastating viral disease.