Haematological changes associated with intranasal and parenteral routes of vaccination against Peste des petits ruminants in West African dwarf goats

The haematological indices of West African dwarf goats vaccinated against Peste des petits ruminants virus via the parenteral and the mucosal (intranasal) routes were studied and compared with an unvaccinated control. The post vaccination packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations of the vaccinated groups did not show any statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) from the unvaccinated control. However, a statistically significant difference was observed in the total white blood cell (WBC) counts between the vaccinated groups and the unvaccinated control, as well as between those vaccinated via the mucosal route and those vaccinated via the parenteral routes, though all within the normal reference values for West African dwarf goats. Differential WBC counts showed the significant difference to be due to increase in lymphocyte population, suggesting that PPR vaccine administered via the different routes was able to stimulate a cellular immune response which is mostly lymphoproliferative. Thus, it can be suggested that intranasal vaccination against Peste des petits ruminants as well as vaccination via the conventional route is safe.