Clinical Management and Recovery of a 2-Year-Old West African Dwarf Doe with Peste des Petits Ruminants

Peste des petits ruminants (PPRs) is a highly contagious disease threatening small ruminant production and rural livelihoods in Africa. While most Nigerian reports focus on herd-level outbreaks, detailed single-animal case studies integrating clinical, hematological, and molecular findings remain limited. This report aimed to document and highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic steps involved in managing an individual goat with PPR, demonstrating the value of early diagnosis and structured supportive care in improving recovery outcomes. A 2-year-old West African Dwarf doe presented with anorexia, necrotic oral lesions, and profuse diarrhea. Clinical examination revealed pyrexia (41.6°C), tachycardia, lymphadenopathy, and dehydration. Hematology indicated moderate anemia and lymphocytosis, while real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction targeting the PPR virus F-gene confirmed infection (cycle threshold [Ct] 29.21). Following timely supportive interventions, full recovery occurred within seven days. This case underscores the importance of early recognition, molecular confirmation, and targeted supportive management to enhance survival and guide field veterinarians in resource-limited endemic settings.