Changes of haemogram and serum biochemistry in neonatal piglet diarrhoea associated with porcine rotavirus type A.

Porcine rotavirus type A (RVA) is a major cause of neonatal piglet mortality in India. The effect of the disease on haemogram and serum biochemical profile is not well established in piglets. Accordingly, we assessed the haemogram and serum biochemical profile in the neonatal piglet diarrhoea with RVA infection (n = 17). The diagnosis of RVA was confirmed using RNA-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (RNA-PAGE), commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Non-infected healthy piglets (n = 6) served as control. The concentrations of total protein, albumin, alanine amino transaminase (ALT), aspartate amino transaminase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine in serum were measured by spectrophotometric method. Haemogram was done in the blood using sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Na EDTA) as anticoagulant. The mean values of total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) decreased and concentrations of ALT, AST, BUN and creatinine were significantly increased (P < 0.001) in the RVA-infected piglets. Haemogram showed marked haemoconcentration (P < 0.001), leukopenia (P < 0.01) and neutropenia (P < 0.01) in the presence of RVA infection than healthy piglets. The results indicated a possible extra-intestinal spread of RVA in piglets during neonatal diarrhoea. The finding might be helpful to clinicians and while treating such type of clinical cases, incorporation of organ protective drugs will be helpful for better response in the treatment schedule.