African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 (9), pp. 743-748, 2 May 2006   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2006 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Haematological and blood biochemical indices of West African dwarf goats vaccinated against Pestes des petit ruminants (PPR)

Aikhuomobhogbe, P. U. and Orheruata, A. M.*

Department of Animal Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

*Corresponding authors E-mail: maorheruata@yahoo.co.uk,micorhe@uniben.edu. Tel: +234 8023438773

Accepted 2 February, 2006.

The effect of Pestes des petit ruminants (PPR) vaccine on haemoglobin genotype, haematological and blood biochemical indices of forty randomly selected West African dwarf (WAD) goats were studied. Packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), neutrophil (NEU), lymphocyte (LYM), albumin (ALB), total blood protein (TBP), and globulin (GLO) concentrations were evaluated regarding body weight, sex, location and Peste des petit ruminants vaccine (PPRV) treatment on the traits. Haematological and blood biochemical determinations were performed pre- and 14 days post-vaccination against PPR with PPRV. Body weight, sex, location and PPRV had no influence on packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin concentration (Hb) but exerted significant (P<0.05) influence on post-vaccination neutrophil (NEU²), while sex and location significantly affected post-vaccination lymphocyte (LYM²). Males presented an overall lower number of lymphocyte, higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and white blood cells (WBC) than females. Post-vaccination albumin (ALB²) was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by weight group and location. The increase in the value of total blood protein (TBP), albumin (ALB) and globulin (GLO) concentrations at pre and post vaccination were not consistent. Only the HbAA genotype was found among the entire WAD goats tested, thus indicating the genetic uniformity of WAD goats’ population in Edo central, in terms of haemoglobin genotype. . The correlation between PCV and Hb concentration was high, positive and highly (P<0.001) significant. Low (r = -0.345), negative and significant (P<0.05) correlation was obtained between post-vaccination packed cell volume (PCV²) and post-vaccination white blood cells (WBC²). The observed relationship between PCV and LYM as well as NEU, indicates that PCV levels could be used to assess the immune status of goats. A negative and highly significant (P<0.001) correlation existed between NEU and LYM (r = -0.98). Post-vaccination albumin (ALB²) had significant association with post vaccination globulin (GLO²). The results obtained in the study therefore suggest that PPR vaccine led to increased lymphocyte content and thus increased immunity. It is therefore advisable to vaccinate WAD goats in order to retain immunity status.

Key words: Haematological and biochemical indices, goats PPR vaccine.