Haematological parameters and serum biochemical assay of West African Dwarf goats infected with peste des petits ruminants virus in Nsukka, Enugu State

Sequential haematological and serum biochemical changes in Black Bengal goats infected with a local isolate of peste des petits ruminants virus from Bangladesh

Background

Knowledge of sequential changes in haematobiochemical parameters of infected animals helps in the formulation of appropriate supportive therapy.

Objective

We investigated the sequential haematological and biochemical changes in peste des petits ruminants (PPR)‐infected Black Bengal goats.

Methods

Goats were either infected with PPR virus (PPRV; n = 8) or sham infected with sterile phosphate‐buffered saline (n = 4) via the intranasal route. Blood and sera were collected from both groups at different days post‐infection (dpi) and analysed. Goats were sacrificed at different dpi and the amount of PPRV RNA in different tissues was quantified by real‐time RT‐PCR.

Results

The PPRV‐infected goats showed mild depression and scanty nasal secretions starting at 4 dpi which became severe with high fever (106°F), dyspnoea, stomatitis, profuse orinasal discharge and diarrhoea at 9–13 dpi. PPRV RNA was detected in different tissues of infected goats. Severe lymphocytic leukopenia (at 18 dpi) was observed in infected goats. Total protein and albumin decreased in infected goats starting at 10 dpi. An elevated level of enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase) and metabolites (blood urea nitrogen and urea B) were found in infected goats starting at 7–10 dpi, suggesting damages in the liver and kidneys. PPR‐infected goats showed elevated sodium and chloride ions starting at 7 dpi. The majority of infected goats were seroconverted by 14 dpi.

Conclusions

Anti‐diarrheal agents, aqua solutions and other medicine to support liver and kidney functions could be considered as supportive therapy against PPRV infection.

A comparative evaluation of serum biochemistry profile and antigenic relatedness among velogenic and mesogenic Avian avulavirus 1 infection in chickens and pigeons

Newcastle disease (ND), caused by virulent Avian avulavirus 1 (AAvV 1), affects variety of avian species around the globe. Several AAvV 1 viruses of different genotypes have recently emerged with varying clinical impacts on their susceptible hosts. Although experimental infection with velogenic and mesogenic strains in chickens and pigeons is well-studied, nevertheless, there exists a paucity of data for comparative variations in serum biochemistry profile of susceptible hosts upon challenge with isolates of varying pathogenicities. With this background, a comparative assessment of a range of serum biochemical parameters was made following challenge with duck-originated velogenic strain (sub-genotype VIIi; MF437287) and pigeon-originated mesogenic strain (sub-genotype VIm; KU885949) in chickens and pigeons. For each of the isolate, commercial broiler chickens and wild pigeons were challenged (10^-6.51 EID₅₀/0.1 mL for sub-genotype VIIi and 10^-6.87 EID₅₀/0.1 mL sub-genotype Vim) separately via intranasal and intraocular route. Sera were collected on 0, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th day post-infection (dpi), and processed for quantitative analysis of different biochemical parameters. By day 3 post-infection (pi), a substantial decrease (p < 0.0001) in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was observed in chickens and pigeons challenged with velogenic isolate. On the other hand, from day 5 pi and onward, a significant increase (p < 0.001) in serum ALP and total protein concentration was observed exclusively in pigeons challenged with mesogenic isolate. For serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), a significant increase (p < 0.05) in concentration was observed on day 3 pi which decreased from day 5 pi and onward in pigeons and chickens challenged with mesogenic isolate. Also, to reveal antigenic differences among homologous and heterologous vaccine and field-prevalent strains, cross-hemagglutination inhibition assay demonstrated antigenically diverse nature (R-value < 0.5) of both strains from vaccine strain (LaSota, genotype II). The study concludes antigenic differences among prevalent genotypes than vaccine strain and, although requires further studies to ascertain study outcomes, the serum biochemical profile may facilitate presumptive diagnosis of disease in their susceptible hosts.