Hezekiah K. Adesokan

Causes and implications of bovine organs/offal condemnations in some abattoirs in Western Nigeria

Food animals though sources of protein and revenue to man, also serve as vehicles of disease transmission. This work reviews a three year record of slaughtered cattle in 12 abattoirs/slaughter slabs in western Nigeria to determine the economic and public health issues associated with their disease conditions. Out of 641,224 cattle slaughtered, 51,196 (7.98%) were attributable to 14 diseases/conditions including tuberculosis, pneumonia, fascioliasis, pimply gut, paramphistomosis, cysticercosis, dermatophilosis, tonsillitis, taeniasis, ascariosis, abscess, mange, mastitis and immature fetuses. Pneumonia (21.38%), fascioliasis (20.28%) and tuberculosis (7.95%) were major reasons for condemnations; least being ascariosis (0.01%). The lungs (45.66%) and liver (32.94%) accounted for most organ condemned while the heart (0.02%) was the least affected. The proportions of pneumonia, fascioliasis and immature fetuses observed were not statistically different (Mean = 3895.7; 3654.0; 3467.3); however, a significant difference existed with other conditions (MeanA= 3895.7; 3654.0; 3467.3; MeanB = 1359.7; 1057.7; 510.3). Organs/offal condemnations constituted loss of revenue and animal protein as 124,333 kilogrammes worth of meat valued in Naira at N41,613,043 (

Mycobacterium bovis and M. tuberculosis in Goats, Nigeria

332,904) was lost over the period giving an average of N13,871,014 (

Knowledge and practices related to bovine brucellosis transmission amongst livestock workers in Yewa, south-western Nigeria.

110,968) annually. This, coupled with fetal wastage represented an economic loss; with associated public health implications.

Mycobacterium bovis infection in livestock workers in Ibadan, Nigeria: evidence of occupational exposure.

To the Editor: Documentation of possible tuberculosis (TB) in goats in Nigeria was reported by Ojo (1) on the basis of gross lesions without culture confirmation. Livestock owners in Nigeria normally graze cattle and goats together, and this practice poses a high risk for transmission of bovine TB among these animals (1). This practice is especially a threat to goats in Nigeria because several reports have described bovine TB in cattle in Nigeria (2–5). However, reports of diagnosis of TB in goats in Nigeria are lacking. Molecular epidemiologic techniques such as deletion typing and spoligotyping have been used to characterize members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) and to provide information on transmission of mycobacterial diseases between animals and humans (6). However, because of limited resources and lack of expertise, these techniques are not commonly used in most developing nations such as Nigeria, where TB is endemic (3). Because slaughterhouses provide excellent opportunities for detecting diseases of economic and public health importance, we investigated the presence of mycobacteria in slaughtered goats with lesions suggestive of TB. The investigation was conducted at the Bodija Municipal Abattoir in Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria over a period of 6 months. Slaughtered goats were obtained from local herds and herds in northern Nigeria. A total of 10,389 male and female goats of 2 breeds (West African Dwarf and Red Sokoto) and 1–2 years of age were slaughtered; 1,387 were inspected for gross lesions of TB. Of 1,387 animals screened, 62 (4.47%) had lesions suggestive of TB in the liver, lungs, and mesenteric lymph nodes. Five (0.36%) goats were confirmed positive by culture as described (2). Deletion typing (6) with the RD9 deletion was used to distinguish M. tuberculosis from other members of the MTC. Those isolates with a deletion in this region were further investigated with primers specific for RD4. This reaction distinguishes between M. bovis, M. caprae, and other members of the MTC. Spoligotyping was performed as described (7) to type an M. tuberculosis isolate from a goat after identification of this bacterium by deletion typing. We isolated 4 strains of M. bovis and 1 strain of M. tuberculosis from the goats (Table). Spoligotyping identified the M. tuberculosis isolate as belonging to the East African Indian (EAI)–5 family in the SpolDB4 database. All M. bovis isolates were M. bovis bovis, not M. bovis caprae, according to their deletion typing profile (6). One M. bovis isolate was obtained from a male goat; the 3 remaining M. bovis isolates and the M. tuberculosis isolate were obtained from female goats. Table Results of deletion typing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. bovis in goats, Nigeria* Epidemiologic inferences can be made from the results of our study. First, M. bovis, which is naturally found in cattle, was isolated from 4 slaughtered goats. Although M. bovis caprae was the M. bovis variant most frequently isolated from goats in some areas (8), in our study, only M. bovis bovis was isolated. This finding is consistent with results reported by Crawshaw et al. (9), and suggests transmission from cattle, rather than transmission from the goat reservoir. Second, because the infected goats were adult females, infection may be transmitted to their offspring. Third, M. tuberculosis was isolated from a goat. Its presence in this goat may have been caused by direct transmission from humans because this bacterium may be a natural pathogen of humans. Transmission caused by close cohabitation of goats and humans with advanced TB may occur, given the endemic nature of TB in humans in Nigeria (10). TB cases caused by EAI strains have been found in humans in southwestern Nigeria (4; S.I. Cadmus et al., unpub. data), a finding that supports zoonotic transmission of this organism from humans to goats. However, different lineages of M. tuberculosis may vary in host range, and EAI genotype strains may be adapted to human and animal hosts. Conversely, human-to-animal transmission of M. tuberculosis has been reported in Nigeria relative to infection in cattle (3,4). Thus, confirmation of TB in goats supports the possibility of risk for TB transmission between humans and animals in Nigeria. This study should be interpreted in the context of its limitations. Because the sources of the animals were unknown, we could not determine whether the organisms were imported from a neighboring country (3). In addition, we lacked information on the breed and condition of the animals. However, we have identified M. tuberculosis and TB in goats in Nigeria. Additional studies of other slaughterhouses in Nigeria are needed to confirm our results.

Pattern of antimicrobial usage in livestock animals in south-western Nigeria: The need for alternative plans

Brucellosis is an endemic disease in the animal population in Nigeria and of major public health importance, particularly amongst livestock workers who are ignorant of the risk of Brucella infection. Therefore, to gain insight into the knowledge and practices related to brucellosis transmission amongst livestock holders (LH) and livestock marketers (LM) in Yewa, an international livestock trading centre in south-western Nigeria, we conducted an interviewbased study using a cluster sampling technique. In all, a total of 157 respondents comprising 54 LH and 103 LM were interviewed. Two-thirds (69.5%) of the two groups had poor knowledge of brucellosis with no significant difference between them (p = 0.262). Furthermore, consumption of unpasteurised milk, uncooked meat and its products, co-habitation with animals, and poor hygiene were significant risk practices identified as possible means of transfer of Brucella infection from animals to humans amongst these livestock workers (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our findings revealed that poor knowledge and practices related to the consumption of unpasteurised or unboiled dairy products, contaminated beef, and unhygienic practices are factors that will facilitate Brucella infections amongst livestock workers in Nigeria. Therefore, there is a need for more public health enlightenment programmes, as well as implementation of brucellosis control measures in the cattle populations.

Sero-epidemiological survey and risk factors associated with brucellosis in dogs in south-western Nigeria.

SETTING Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is endemic in the cattle population in Nigeria. Livestock workers are at risk of Mycobacterium bovis infection and unaware of their health status. OBJECTIVE To determine the occurrence of pulmonary M. bovis infection among livestock workers. DESIGN A cross-sectional study of livestock traders was conducted for TB through screening of sputum samples using a simple random sampling method coupled with oral interview on the assumption of sub-clinical pulmonary TB infection. Specimens were cultured, and the isolates analysed using molecular typing techniques. RESULTS Overall, 10% (7/70) of the livestock traders had a positive culture indicative of M. tuberculosis complex, which were differentiated into M. bovis (n = 2) and M. tuberculosis (n = 5) using deletion typing. Further spoligotyping analyses of the M. bovis and two available M. tuberculosis isolates classified the strains as SB1432 and SB09444 and LAM_10 CAM and T1 using respectively www.mbovis.org and spotclust databases. Prolonged cough and >3 years in the livestock trade were risk factors for infection. CONCLUSION We confirm that there is undetected pulmonary M. bovis infection among livestock traders in Nigeria. Further studies on the role of occupationally exposed workers in the transmission of M. bovis infection to the larger community are required.

Knowledge and practices about zoonotic tuberculosis prevention and associated determinants amongst livestock workers in Nigeria; 2015

Resistance to antibiotics has continued to increase, placing future animal and human disease management in real danger. The developing countries characterised by widespread indiscriminate antibiotic use and in which ‘third-generation’ antibiotics are not readily available or affordable are the worst affected. A 3-year (2010–2012) retrospective survey of antibiotic usage in livestock production in three selected states of south-western Nigeria was conducted. Data obtained from eight purposively selected licensed veterinary pharmaceutical sales establishments in the area, based on keeping detailed sales records for the study period, were analysed using Stata Version 12. Results showed that tetracyclines (33.6%), fluoroquinolones (26.5%) and beta-lactams/aminoglycosides (20.4%) constituted the majority of the antibiotics used over the 3 years. The differences in the quantities of antibiotic types used within each antimicrobial class were statistically significant for tetracyclines (F = 59.87; p < 0.0001) and fluoroquinolones (F = 43.97; p < 0.0001) but not for beta-lactams/aminoglycosides (F = 3.21; p = 0.148). Furthermore, antibiotic consumption increased by 40.4% between 2010 and 2012. Although statistically insignificant (F = 0.277; p = 0.762), the increasing trend across the years was at rates of 23.5% between 2010 and 2011 and 13.8% between 2011 and 2012. In addition, the findings show a significantly higher consumption rate (t = 15.21; df = 5; p < 0.0001) during the rainy (52.5%) than the dry (47.5%) seasons. The current increasing trend in antibiotic usage holds a serious danger for the future and therefore calls for alternative plans to safeguard future livestock production, food security and human health. This becomes more imperative considering emerging resistance against tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones, the foremost remedies for livestock diseases in most developing countries.

Isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from livestock workers and implications for zooanthroponotic transmission in Ibadan, South-western Nigeria

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. Results From the 739 dog sera tested, 81 (10.96%) were positive by RSA and 94 (12.72%) by RBT; these were corroborated with SAT (4/81; 4.94%) and cELISA (1/94; 1.06%), respectively. Logistic regression identified location (OR=0.04; 95% CI: 0.02-0.09), breed (OR=1.71; 95% CI: 1.34-2.19), age (OR=0.10; 95% CI: 0.04-0.30) and management system (OR=8.51; 95% CI: 1.07-68.05) as risk factors for Brucella infection by RSA. However, location (OR=10.83; 95% CI: 5.48-21.39) and history of infertility (OR=2.62; 95% CI: 1.41-4.84) were identified as risk factors using RBT. Conclusion Given the 10.96% to 12.72% seroprevalence of brucellosis recorded in this study, we advocate control of the disease in dogs, and public health education for those at risk of infection. Again, further studies are required to elucidate the role of dogs in the epidemiology of brucellosis in Nigeria considering the conducive human-animal interface and ecological factors responsible for the transmission of the disease.

Bacterial Load and Antimicrobial Profile of Escherichia coli and Listeria spp. Isolates from Muscle Tissues of Slaughtered Cattle at a Major Abattoir in Ibadan, South-Western Nigeria

Zoonotic tuberculosis (TB) is a significant public health disease, but has long been neglected. Information on knowledge and practices of its prevention and influencing factors amongst occupationally exposed individuals is required for designing all-inclusive, informed control programmes. We investigated knowledge and practices related to zoonotic TB prevention and associated determinants amongst herdsmen and abattoir workers in south-western, south-eastern and north-western Nigeria using semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analysed with STATA 12. A total of 510 respondents (196 herdsmen; 314 abattoir workers) participated in the survey, of which 58.6% and 46.9% respectively were knowledgeable and demonstrated good practices about zoonotic TB prevention. Almost 60% knew that zoonotic TB transmission was preventable and 49.8% knew transmission could be through consumption of infected animal products. However, only 16.7% knew the disease could be transmitted by aerosol. Just 49.4% sought medical check-up when ill, 37.8% used protective clothing and only 29.2% usually condemned TB infected cattle. Respondents with post-primary education were about three times more likely to be knowledgeable (OR = 2.70, 95%CI: 1.68–4.33) and two times more likely to demonstrate good practice (OR = 2.23, 95%CI: 1.45–3.42) than those without formal education. Similarly, abattoir workers were about 6.4 times more likely to be knowledgeable (OR: 6.39, 95%CI: 4.31–9.47) and two times more likely to demonstrate good practice (OR: 2.03, 95%CI: 1.40–2.92) than the herdsmen. There were important knowledge gaps with poor practices about zoonotic TB prevention amongst livestock workers in Nigeria. Strong predictors of knowledge and practice were being an abattoir worker and having post-primary education. Well-designed grassroots enlightenment programmes addressing modes of transmission, handling infected cattle and seeking medical check-up are urgently needed among high risk settings considering the recently launched Road Map for Zoonotic Tuberculosis which resonates that every tuberculosis case counts towards 2030 End-TB Strategy.

Serological Survey of Brucellosis in Livestock Animals and Workers in Ibadan, Nigeria

Summary 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.