Comparison of clinical, hematological and serum biochemical parameters between foot-and-mouth disease infected and non-infected Nigerian breeds of cattle.

Abstract

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) still remains one of the major hindrances to livestock productivity in Africa as a whole and Nigeria in particular, with estimated well over 7billions losses to FMDV infection per annum in Nigeria. We therefore sought to establish and compare the clinical, hematological and biochemical indices in FMD infected and non-infected cattle. A total of 60 cattle including 40 apparently healthy and 20 FMD-infected cattle were sampled in Central Abattoir, Akinyele and Akufo Farm settlement, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria respectively. Confirmatory diagnosis was done by accessing the presented pathognomonic clinical signs and the use of rapid diagnostic Antibody detection kit. Clinical parameters were recorded, and blood was drawn through the jugular vein for hematological and biochemical profiles. Standard hematological and serum biochemical techniques were used to analyzed the samples for hematological and biochemical parameters respectively. Results revealed higher clinical parameters in infected compared to the non-infected. All erythrocytic parameters were significantly lower in FMD infected cattle compared to non-infected cattle with P-values of 0.016, 0.015, 0.010, 0.001, 0.001 and 0.045 for PCV, Hb conc, RBC count, MCV, MCH and MCHC values respectively. Significant differences (P<0.05) of 0.001, 0.001, 0.001, 0.000, 0.001 and 0.001 for Lymphocyte, Neutrophil, Absolute lymphocyte, Absolute monocyte, Absolute neutrophil and platelets respectively. There were significant differences (P<0.05) of 0.009,0.001, 0.026, 0.001, 0.014, 0.001,0.001, 0.001, 0.001 and 0.001 for Total serum protein, Albumin, Globulin, Glucose, Creatinine, AST, ALT, ALP, Na+ and K+ respectively in infected cattle compared to non-infected cattle. We therefore conclude that, FMD-infected cattle showed lower clinical, hematological and serum biochemical parameters compared to uninfected cattle breeds in Nigeria.