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Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is a zoonotic disease responsible for considerable economic losses; with consequent negative impact on both public health and the livestock industry. However, the burden of this disease and associated economic losses remain un-investigated among slaughtered cattle in Ibadan, the hub of livestock activities in south-western Nigeria. A cross sectional study was conducted over a three-month period to determine the prevalence and economic losses due to BTB among slaughtered cattle at the Bodija Municipal Abattoir, Ibadan, in south-western Nigeria. Individual slaughtered cattle were purposively inspected for the presence of tuberculous lesions, and representative sample of affected organs and associated lymph nodes from the BTB suspected animals were taken. The suspected lesions were processed based on Becton Dickinson digestion and decontamination procedure and the losses due to BTB were estimated mathematically, using a formula. The BTB prevalence of 9.3 % (38/408) was obtained with a significant statistical association (P ≤ 0.05) of the disease with the breeds of cattle slaughtered. Out of the 46 visceral organs condemned: 29 (63 %) were lungs, 12 (26.1 %) livers, 4 (8.7 %) hearts and 1 (2.2 %) kidney. The total estimated annual economic loss (direct and indirect) due to BTB was estimated as Nigerian naria NGN 703,980,070 (EUR 1,725,441.4). This study revealed BTB as endemic and a major cause of concern considering its ill-health and economic effects on both humans and the livestock industry. Efforts are therefore required: to control this disease along the beef value chain in order to safeguard human and livestock health; as well as to limit the economic losses associated with its prevalence.

INTRODUCTION: in Nigeria, there is limited information on brucellosis particularly in dogs, despite its public health implications. We undertook a sero-epidemiological survey of brucellosis in dogs to determine the prevalence of the disease and associated risk factors for its occurrence in Nigeria. METHODS: a cross sectional study was conducted to screen dogs in south-western Nigeria for antibodies to Brucella sp using the rapid slide agglutination test (RSA) and Rose Bengal test (RBT), with positive samples confirmed respectively by serum agglutination test (SAT) and competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). Data were analyzed with STATA-12.

The seasonal outbreaks of Mpox continue in most parts of West and Central Africa. In the past year, Nigeria had the highest number of reported cases. Here, we used the PRISMA guidelines to carry out a systematic review and meta-analysis of available evidence on Mpox in Nigeria to assess the prevalence, transmission pattern, diagnostic approach, and other associated factors useful for mitigating the transmission of the disease. All relevant observational studies in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, AJOL, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar on Mpox in Nigeria were assessed within the last fifty years (1972 to 2022). In all, 92 relevant articles were retrieved, out of which 23 were included in the final qualitative analysis. Notably, most of the cases of Mpox in Nigeria were from the southern part of the country. Our findings showed a progressive spread from the southern to the northern region of the country. We identified the following factors as important in the transmission of Mpox in Nigeria; poverty, lack of basic healthcare facilities, and risk of exposure through unsafe sexual practices. Our findings reiterate the need to strengthen and expand existing efforts as well as establish robust multi-sectoral collaboration to understand the dynamics of Mpox Nigeria., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Lassa fever (LF) is prevalent in many West African countries, including Nigeria. Efforts to combat LF have primarily focused on rural areas where interactions between rodents and humans are common. However, recent studies indicate a shift in its occurrence from rural to urban areas. We analysed secondary data of reported LF outbreaks from 2017 to 2021 in Ondo State, Nigeria to identify the distribution pattern, ecological variations, and other determinants of disease spread from the ward level using nearest neighbour statistics and regression analysis. Data utilised include LF incidence, ecological variables involving population, nighttime light intensity, vegetation, temperature, market presence, road length, and building area coverage. ArcGIS Pro 3.0 software was employed for spatial analysis. Results revealed spatio-temporal clustering of LF incidents between 2017 and 2021, with an increasing trend followed by a decline in 2021. All wards in Owo Local Government Area were identified as LF hotspots. The ecological variables exhibited significant correlations with the number of LF cases in the wards, except for maximum temperature. Notably, these variables varied significantly between wards with confirmed LF and those without. Therefore, it is important to prioritise strategies for mitigating LF outbreaks in urban areas of Nigeria and other LF-endemic countries., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) comprises the species that causes tuberculosis (TB) which affects 10 million people every year. A robust classification of species, lineages, and sub-lineages is important to explore associations with drug resistance, epidemiological patterns or clinical outcomes. We present a rapid and easy-to-follow methodology to classify clinical TB samples into the main MTBC clades. Approaches are based on the identification of lineage and sub-lineage diagnostic SNP using a real-time PCR high resolution melting assay and classic Sanger sequencing from low-concentrated, low quality DNA. Thus, suitable for implementation in middle and low-income countries. Once we validated our molecular procedures, we characterized a total of 491 biological samples from human and cattle hosts, representing countries with different TB burden. Overall, we managed to genotype ~95% of all samples despite coming from unpurified and low-concentrated DNA. Our approach also allowed us to detect zoonotic cases in eight human samples from Nigeria. To conclude, the molecular techniques we have developed, are accurate, discriminative and reproducible. Furthermore, it costs less than other classic typing methods, resulting in an affordable alternative method in TB laboratories.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa coupled with dearth of information about the disease among livestock workers at risk of infection. We determined the prevalence of pulmonary TB infection and factors associated with its occurrence among livestock workers in south-western Nigeria., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using active case-finding among livestock workers with sub-clinical pulmonary TB between August 2014 and March 2015. Sputum samples were cultured and subjected to a two-step multiplex-PCR technique based on genus-typing and genomic regions-of-difference. Interviewer-administered questionnaire was utilized in assessing worker's TB related knowledge and practices. Data were analysed using STATA 12., Results: Overall, 206 livestock workers (traders = 136; butchers = 70) were screened; 5.1% (7/136) of the traders and 7.1% (5/70) of the butchers had positive mycobacterial cultures. Molecular techniques identified one Mycobacterium tuberculosis with six non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) from the traders and four M. tuberculosis with one NTM from the butchers.Participants within the age range of 50 years and above were at higher risk of being infected with TB (OR = 7.7; 95%CI:1.7-35.6) and majority had poor knowledge and practices regarding TB., Conclusions: We confirmed M. tuberculosis as the cause of pulmonary TB among the livestock workers, with implications for zooanthroponotic transmission of the disease along the human-animal ecosystem interface in Nigeria., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement None declared.

Introduction: Buruli ulcer (BU) is a highly ranked neglected tropical disease (NTD) of global health importance with increasing incidence in sub-Saharan Africa yet there is paucity of information on the epidemiology of BU in Nigeria. Incidentally, highly BU endemic Benin Republic shares proximity with Nigeria. This study was carried out to establish presence of BU and ascertain the level of BU perception among rural populace in Ogun State, south-west Nigeria., Methods: Secondary data (2009-2012) on incidence of BU was collected from a reference hospital. A cross-sectional survey using structured questionnaire administered to rural people and healthcare practitioners was conducted in three purposively chosen Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Ogun State based on unpublished reports of BU presence., Results: Data collected revealed 27 hospital confirmed BU cases between 2009-2012 across four LGAs (Obafemi Owode, Abeokuta North, Yewa North and Yewa South) while 14%(21/150) chronic ulcers (suspected to be BU) were discovered during the cross-sectional survey carried out in Odeda, Yewa South and North LGAs. Healthcare practitioners 63.6% (42/66) and 54.7% (82/150) rural people demonstrated poor level of BU perception respectively., Conclusion: This study provides evidence that BU exists in Ogun State and evaluates the poor perception that the affected rural populace has on the disease. This pilot study presents baseline information on BU in a rural setting in Ogun State South-west Nigeria hence the vital need for prompt public health involvement and further research on the epidemiology of BU.

Background: Several zoonotic diseases are known to constitute great impediment to livestock management and production worldwide, especially in developing countries where control measures are largely non-existent. This study sets out to investigate the occurrence of toxoplasmosis, neosporosis and brucellosis among cattle herds in Oyo State, southwest Nigeria., Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey to screen for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii , Neospora caninum and Brucella abortus was conducted among 174 cattle in 17 herds. Sera obtained from the cattle were screened for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and for Brucella abortus antibodies using Rose Bengal test and Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (cELISA)., Results: Overall, herd level prevalence of 52.9%, 23.5% and 23.5% as well as individual prevalence of 7.5%, 3.4% and 3.4% was obtained for toxoplasmosis, neosporosis and brucellosis, respectively. Antibodies to T. gondii , N. caninum and B. abortus were detected in 2 of the 17 herds, T. gondii and N. caninum in 4 herds, and T. gondii and B. abortus in 4 herds. Statistically significant association was only found between seropositivity to T. gondii antibodies and sex (p<0.05)., Conclusion: Our results showed that toxoplasmosis, neosporosis and brucellosis are prevalent among cattle herds screened in the study area. Considering the potential impact of these diseases on livestock management and production, extensive surveillance is necessary for development and implementation of effective control and prevention strategies.

Background: The molecular biological techniques of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are accurate and rapid diagnostic methods in the epidemiology of Mycobacterium species in humans and animals, especially in developing countries., Methods: In this study, positive cultures from suspected tuberculous lesions of slaughtered cattle from two abattoirs in north-central Nigeria were subjected to a two-step multiplex PCR technique, based on genus typing and genomic regions of difference (RD)., Results: Out of 50 suspected tuberculous lesions cultured, 40 isolates were obtained. Based on genus typing, 32 of the isolates were identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC), one as non-tuberculous Mycobacterium (NTM) and the remaining seven were unclassified. Using genomic RD multiplex PCR, all the 32 isolates initially identified as MTC were further characterized as M. bovis., Conclusion: Our findings show that 80% of positive cultures from suspected tuberculous lesions were identified as M. bovis; hence, re-confirming M. bovis as the main cause of bovine tuberculosis in Nigeria. These results give further credence to the use of PCR-based molecular techniques as excellent complementary epidemiological tools in the tracking of bovine tuberculosis, a zoonotic disease of major public health importance in Nigeria.

Available reports on brucellosis in Nigeria are largely confined to cattle while it is believed that other ruminants like sheep and goats are equally exposed to the disease. To have an insight into the role of goats in the epidemiology of brucellosis in Nigeria, we conducted a cross-sectional study between June 2011 and May 2013 to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis in goats in some selected states in Nigeria. Serum samples were collected from goats at different locations and tested for antibodies to Brucella spp using the Rose Bengal Test (RBT), samples positive by RBT were further subjected to Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (cELISA). Data collected to determine risk factors were also analysed using chi-square and logistics regression statistics. Out of a total of 2827 samples tested from the different states (Benue = 331; Borno =195; Oyo = 2155; Sokoto = 146), we recorded an overall seroprevalence of 2.83% (Benue = 17.30%; Borno = 2.05%; Oyo = 0.60% and Sokoto = 0.00%) by RBT. The cELISA further supported 9.45% (7/74) of the total RBT positive samples. Logistic regression analysis showed that the location (p = 0.004) and source (p < 0.0001); are probable risk factors to be considered in the epidemiology of brucellosis with sex (p = 0.179); age (p = 0.791) and breed (p = 0.369) not playing any major role. Our findings reveal a relatively low seroprevalence of brucellosis among goats screened except for Benue State. Since most of the goats sampled in the present study were from the abattoirs, further farm level investigations are required to determine the role of goats in the epidemiology of brucellosis in Nigeria since they share common environment with sheep and cattle that are natural hosts of Brucella species which are of major public health threat.

Carbofuran based pesticides have gained wide usage in Nigeria recently. Consequently, animals and human populations are exposed to them in the environment. Information on in vivo toxicity of carbofuran in experimental models is scanty. The present study therefore examined the hepatotoxicity and clastogenic effects of carbofuran in rats. Male Wistar rats were exposed to carbofuran (p.o) at 0-5mg/kg bw for 5weeks. Carbofuran induced significant (p<0.05) increase in the serum activity of gamma-glutamyltransferase when compared with the negative control, but not activity of serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases. It also significantly (p<0.05) induced micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes formation in the bone marrow as compared with the control. The level of induction is dose dependent in both cases. In addition, there was significant (p<0.05) higher number of hepatic cells in the cell/mm(2) assay for the group treated with carbofuran. Histopathological analysis of liver samples from the treated groups revealed lesions ranging from general congestion (portal, central venous and sinusoidal), mild periportal cellular infiltration, diffused sinusoidal congestion and hepatic necrosis to severe congestion. Findings from this study suggest that carbofuran has clastogenic and hepatotoxic effects in rats. It therefore may constitute an environmental health risks in individuals so exposed., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)