Hematological and Biochemical Evaluation of Small Ruminants
Naturally Infected with ORF Virus in Punjab Province, Pakistan
Irtaza Hussain1,2*,
Muti ur Rehman Khan1*, Asim Aslam1, Masood
Rabbani2 and Ahsan Anjum4
1Department
of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University
of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan; 2Department
of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya
University Multan, 60800, Pakistan; 3Institute of
Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University
of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan, 4Department
of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,
MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan;
*Corresponding author:
drniazi@uvas.edu.pk,
drirtazasahu@bzu.edu.pk
Abstract
The ORF virus causes contagious ecthyma in sheep
and goats, which is an economically significant viral skin disease. The goal of
this research was to observe the influence of ORFV on small ruminants’
hematological parameters as well as serum biochemical profiles across various
districts of Punjab, Pakistan. In 58/441 animals, ORFV was confirmed by
molecular analysis. ORFV lineages were classified into five separate groups
based on phylogenetic analysis of the GIF/IL2 gene of Parapoxviruses. ORFV
sequences from Pakistan isolates were grouped with viruses from China and India
in Cluster I. In ORFV infected animals, hematological tests manifested mild to
moderate leukocytosis, granulocytosis, severe neutrophilia and severe
lymphopenia. Eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, thrombocytes, red blood cells
(RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean
corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were not influenced statistically
(P>0.05). Infected animals had significantly higher (P<0.05) alanine
transaminase (ALT) and albumin to globulin (A/G) ratios when serum biochemical
parameters were assessed. Total protein, albumin, globulin, creatinine and urea
all indicated a significant decline (P<0.05) in the analysis of data. Bilirubin,
aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), on the other
hand, did not differ significantly (P>0.05). On the lateral commissure of the
lips, muzzle, and nostrils of ORFV infected animals, diffused papular and
pustular lesions as well as scab formation were visible. Microscopic
investigations revealed acanthosis, parakeratosis with micro abscess zones,
hyperkeratosis, spongiosis, epithelial cell degeneration, necrotic foci with
patches of inflammatory cell aggregation and intracytoplasmic eosinophilic
inclusion body in keratinocytes. It may be inferred that the ORFV had a
considerable impact on sheep and goats hematological and serum biochemical
parameters. The findings helped in the comprehension of disease mechanisms and
controlling the infection.
To Cite This Article:
Hussain I, Khan MUR,
Aslam A, Rabbani M, Anjum A, 2022.
Hematological and biochemical evaluation
of small ruminants naturally infected with ORF virus in Punjab Province,
Pakistan. Pak Vet J, 42(4): 540-546.
http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2022.054