Haematological changes in natural and experimental peste des petits ruminants virus infection in goats

Abstract

The haematological changes in both natural and experi­mental "peste des petits ruminants" virus infection in goats were investigated. Results obtained showed that the virus induced a leucopenia which was characterized by lympho­penia, eosinopenia and monocytosis. The degree of lymphopenia seemed to depend on the severity of the clini­cal disease. It is suggested that the lymphopenia and eosi­nopenia may be due to massive destruction of lymphocytes and degenerative changes in the bone marrow  caused  by the virus as well as the possible effects of adrenaline­ mediated increased blood glucocorticoid level due to the stress of severe diarrhoea.