Retrospective study of dog bite cases reported to ECWA Veterinary Clinic, Bukuru, Plateau state, Nigeria

A retrospective study of dog bite cases reported to ECWA Veterinary Clinic Bukuru was carried out in Plateau State, Nigeria to understand the pattern of occurrence in this region. A total of two hundred and forty seven (247) dog bite cases were reported between May, 2009 and June, 2010. The dogs profile showed that 82.1% of the dogs involved had no history of anti-rabies vaccination, 12.6% had records of expired vaccination and only 5.3% had current vaccination. Based on clinical signs, 6.5% of the offending dogs were suspected to be rabid with 2.4% confirmed rabies positive based on laboratory analysis carried out in National Veterinary Research Institute Vom.About 92.7% of the dogs were owned. Of the 50 (247) victims 33 (66%)are less than 20 years old

Detection of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Antibodies in Cattle in Plateau State, Nigeria

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a vector-borne viral hemorrhagic disease with global clinical significance. Certain species of ticks are vectors of CCHF, which can be transmitted from animals to humans and humans to humans by direct exposure to blood or other body fluids. The zoonotic transmission at the human–animal interface from viremic animal hosts to humans is a public health concern with a paucity of data in Nigeria. Samples from 184 pastoral cattle from three local government areas (LGAs) of Plateau state, Nigeria, were screened for CCHF virus using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ID Screen® CCHF Double Antigen for Multi-Species). Overall seropositivity of 30.4% (n = 56) (95% CI: 23.88%, 37.63%) was recorded from the study areas in Plateau State, while 48/126 (38.1%, 95% CI: 29.59%, 47.17%) sampled cows tested positive for CCHFV antibodies. Seropositivity was significantly higher (p < 0.001) among older cattle greater than two years, 54.69% (95% CI: 2.88%, 11.24%) compared to cattle younger than two years, 17.5% (95% CI: 11.17%, 25.50%). The location of farms played a significant role in the seropositivity of CCHF with the least risk observed in Wase LGA. CCHF is an important zoonotic disease in different parts of the globe with a high risk of transmission to pastoralists, livestock keepers/slaughterhouse workers, and veterinarians who handle animals. There is a need for a collaborative one-health approach with various stakeholders to unravel the dynamics of CCHFV epidemiology in Nigeria

Dog Ecology and Management in Niger State, Nigeria: A Basic Tool for Rabies Control

Aims: To examine the dog ecology and management as it relates to the control of rabies in Niger State, Nigeria. Study Design: Questionnaire based survey. Place and Duration of Study: Structured questionnaires on dog ecology and management were administered in Niger State of Nigeria between January and March 2012. Methodology: Structured questionnaires on dog ecology and management comprising of 4 sections, were administered to 300 adult participants between the ages of 18-70 years using systematic randomization; 237 questionnaires were returned. Descriptive statistics using the SAS statistical package were employed to analyze the data. Results: Results indicated that there was a population ratio of 1:5.4 dogs to humans and 1:1.9 female to male dog ratio with an estimated 732,476 dog population in Niger State. Most of the dogs (58.6%) in the state were kept for security reasons and that majority of the dogs strayed at night (52.4%) and evenings (23.8%) into homes across the state. About 52% of dogs were not confined and responsibility for dogs in terms of welfare, mostly (61.5%) lied on everybody in the family and 61% of dogs were fed on family left overs. About 30.4% of dogs were never vaccinated and 31% of the respondents (or their family members) have been inflicted with a dog bite, but only 28.1% of cases received post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). For those humans that were bitten, about 13.8% resulted in death. Conclusion: Due to free roaming and irregular vaccination of dogs in the state; there is bound to be increased dog bite cases/rabies spread. This study concludes that dogs were not catered for as expected in the state and that employment of dog ecological studies before any rabies control programmes, will explore necessary data for planning the programme in Niger State of Nigeria. Improvement and employment of dog ecological studies across states for rabies control programmes in Nigeria and W/Africa is hereby recommended

Electropherotypes and Subgroups of Group A Rotaviruses Circulating among Diarrhoeic Children in Kano, Nigeria

Background: It is estimated that about 600\u2009000 children die annually as a result of severe dehydrating diarrhea caused by rotaviruses. The virus is a double stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus with 11 segments. Group A rotaviruses show a characteristic 4-2-3-2 pattern following electrophoresis. The VP6 subgroups, I and II exist. This work was carried out to study the prevalence of rotavirus infection among children 0-5 years with diarrhea in Kano, and to determine the circulating subgroups and electropherotypes and of the rotavirus isolates. Methods: Two hundred and eighteen stool specimens from children 0-60 months (198 diarrheic and 20 non-diarrheic) were collected from different hospitals and health care centers in Kano and subjected to group A rotavirus enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine presence of group A rotavirus, subgroup ELISA to determine the VP6 subgroups and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) to determine the electropherotypes present. Results: The long electropherotypes (47.05%) of four variations dominated over the short electropherotype (17.64%). About 11.76% of the isolates were of mixed infection. Dominance of subgroup II (45%) over subgroup I (25%), and the presence of both subgroups I and II (10%) and neither subgroup I nor II (15%) was observed in this study. Conclusion: Information on the genomic diversity of the RNA electropherotypes in this region, Kano, is reported in this study.Fond: On l'estime qu'environ 600.000 enfants meurent annuellement en raison de la diarrh\ue9e de d\ue9shydratation grave provoqu\ue9e par des rotaviruses. Le virus est un virus bicat\ue9naire d'ARN (dsRNA) avec 11 segments. Groupez l'exposition de rotaviruses d'A un mod\ue8le 4-2-3-2 caract\ue9ristique apr\ue8s l'\ue9lectrophor\ue8se. Les sous-groupes VP6, l'I et l'II existent. Ces travaux ont \ue9t\ue9 men\ue9s \ue0 bien pour \ue9tudier la pr\ue9dominance de l'infection de rotavirus parmi des enfants 0-5 ans avec la diarrh\ue9e dans Kano, et pour d\ue9terminer les sous-groupes et les electropherotypes de circulation et des isolats de rotavirus. M\ue9thodes: Deux cents et dix-huit sp\ue9cimens de selles des enfants 0-60 mois (198 diarrhoeic et 20 non-diarrhoeic) ont \ue9t\ue9 rassembl\ue9s de diff\ue9rents h\uf4pitaux et centres de sant\ue9 dans Kano et soumis au groupe que l'enzyme de rotavirus d'A a li\ue9 l'analyse d'immunosorbant (ELISA) pour d\ue9terminer la pr\ue9sence du rotavirus du groupe A, ELISA de sous-groupe pour d\ue9terminer les sous-groupes VP6 et l'\ue9lectrophor\ue8se de gel de polyacrylamide (PAGE) pour d\ue9terminer les electropherotypes actuels. R\ue9sultats: Les longs electropherotypes (47.05%) de quatre variations ont domin\ue9 sur l'electropherotype court (17.64%). Environ 11.76% des isolats \ue9taient de l'infection m\ue9lang\ue9e. On n'a observ\ue9 la dominance du sous-groupe d'exc\ue9dent du sous-groupe II (45%) I (25%), et la pr\ue9sence des deux sous-groupes I et II (10%) et ni sous-groupe I ni II (15%) dans cette \ue9tude. Conclusion: L'information sur la diversit\ue9 genomic des electropherotypes d'ARN dans cette r\ue9gion, Kano, est rapport\ue9e dans cette \ue9tude

Henipavirus Neutralising Antibodies in an Isolated Island Population of African Fruit Bats

Isolated islands provide valuable opportunities to study the persistence of viruses in wildlife populations, including population size thresholds such as the critical community size. The straw-coloured fruit bat, Eidolon helvum, has been identified as a reservoir for henipaviruses (serological evidence) and Lagos bat virus (LBV; virus isolation and serological evidence) in continental Africa. Here, we sampled from a remote population of E. helvum annobonensis fruit bats on Annobón island in the Gulf of Guinea to investigate whether antibodies to these viruses also exist in this isolated subspecies. Henipavirus serological analyses (Luminex multiplexed binding and inhibition assays, virus neutralisation tests and western blots) and lyssavirus serological analyses (LBV: modified Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralisation test, LBV and Mokola virus: lentivirus pseudovirus neutralisation assay) were undertaken on 73 and 70 samples respectively. Given the isolation of fruit bats on Annobón and their lack of connectivity with other populations, it was expected that the population size on the island would be too small to allow persistence of viruses that are thought to cause acute and immunising infections. However, the presence of antibodies against henipaviruses was detected using the Luminex binding assay and confirmed using alternative assays. Neutralising antibodies to LBV were detected in one bat using both assays. We demonstrate clear evidence for exposure of multiple individuals to henipaviruses in this remote population of E. helvum annobonensis fruit bats on Annobón island. The situation is less clear for LBV. Seroprevalences to henipaviruses and LBV in Annobón are notably different to those in E. helvum in continental locations studied using the same sampling techniques and assays. Whilst cross-sectional serological studies in wildlife populations cannot provide details on viral dynamics within populations, valuable information on the presence or absence of viruses may be obtained and utilised for informing future studies

Polymerase chain reaction: Theory, practice and application: A review

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a rapid procedure for in vitro enzymatic amplification of specific DNA sequences using two oligonucleotide primers that hybridize to opposite strands and flank the region of interest in the target DNA. Repetitive cycles involving template denaturation, primer annealing and the extension of the annealed primers by DNA polymerase, result in the exponential accumulation of a specific fragment whose termini are defined by 5′ end of the primers. The primer extension products synthesized in one cycle can serve as a template in the next. Hence the number of target DNA copies approximately doubles at every cycle. Since its inception, PCR has had an enormous impact in both basic and diagnostic aspects of molecular biology. Like the PCR itself, the number of applications has been accumulating exponentially. It is therefore recommended that relevant scientists and laboratories in developing countries like Nigeria should acquire this simple and relatively inexpensive, but rather robust technology

Rabies Vaccination Coverage and Antibody Profile of Owned Dogs in Abuja, Nigeria

ObjectiveTo determine the vaccination status of owned dogs, assess therabies antibody titre of vaccinated dogs and risk factors associatedwith vaccination of dogs in Abuja, Nigeria.IntroductionRabies is a zoonotic disease of high public health importance1.There have been documented reports of rabies in vaccinateddogs2. Rabies is enzootic in domestic dogs in Nigeria. Hence,annual vaccination campaigns of dogs are advocated with the aimof rabies elimination. Vaccination status, type of vaccination andthe immunogenicity of the various rabies vaccines used in AbujaNigeria has not been studied. To date, no effective medical therapyhas been established for rabies3. Most human rabies deaths occurin the developing countries and though effective and economicalcontrol measures are available their application in developingcountries is hampered by a range of economic, social and politicalfactors. It is widely recognized that the number of deaths officiallyreported in most developing countries greatly underestimates the trueincidence of disease, with several factors contributing to widespreadunderreporting3. Preventive vaccination against rabies virus is ahighly effective method for preventing rabies in humans and animals3but do people vaccinate and how long does the immunity conferredby the vaccine remain protective in the dogs in Abuja?. Rabies hashigh financial expenditure burden on any country where it is endemicmainly associated with costs incurred on post-exposure prophylaxis(determined by the type of vaccine, vaccine regimen and route ofadministration as well as the type of immunoglobulin used).MethodsDog serum samples (n=276) were collected from Abuja the FederalCapital Territory (FCT) Nigeria, from 5 locations (Phase 1, 2, 3,Gwagwalada and Kubwa) based on availability and owners consent.Rabies antibody serum titer was determined using an indirect enzymelinked immuno-sorbent assay. Face to face structured questionnaireswere used to obtain demographic and zoographic information fromthe dog owners. Associations between the demographic variables,vaccination status and rabies antibody titer of each dog were assessedusingχ2analysis.ResultsOf the dogs sampled, 229 (83%) had certified antirabies vaccinationrecord. The dogs sampled, which were vaccinated from Phase I, II,III and the satellite towns were; 109/118 (92.37%), 32/33 (96.97%),48/49 (97.96%) and 40/76 (52.63%), respectively. A total of 276serum samples were collected, processed and analyzed during thisstudy. Out of the 276 dogs sampled, 239 (86.6%) had rabies antibodytitre≥0.6EU/ml whilst 37 (13.4%) had less than 0.6EU/ml. Therewas a marked decline in rabies antibody titre with increase in time.Out of the 228 exotic breeds of dogs sampled, 218 (95.6%) werevaccinated whilst 11 (22.9%) of the 48indigenous breed of dogssampled were vaccinated. All the exotic breed of dogs had rabiesantibody titre≥0.6EU/ml whilst 37 (77.1%) of the indigenousbreed of dogs had less than 0.6 EU/ml levels of rabies antibody titre.All dogs within 6 months to 1 year and greater than 10 years of agehad≥0.6EU/ml rabies antibody titre whilst dogs within 1-5 years had1 (0.5%) and 36(69.2%) dogs of age 6-10 years had rabies antibodytitre &lt; 0.6EU/ml. Twelve (7.6%) of the males and 25 (21.2%) of thefemales had less than 0.6EU/ml rabies antibody titre. All the dogsacquired by importation and from breeders had rabies antibody titre≥0.6EU/ml whilst 37 (27.2%) of the dogs acquired from friends hadless than 0.6EU/ml rabies antibody titre.Significant associations were observed between breed (χ2= 203,df = 1, P-value &lt; 0.05), age (χ2= 172, df = 3, P-value &lt; 0.05), sex(χ2= 10.75, df = 1, P-value &lt; 0.05), source (χ2= 43.99, df = 2, P-value&lt; 0.05), rabies vaccination status (χ2= 276.00, df = 2, P-value &lt; 0.05)and the rabies antibody prevalence of sampled dogs.ConclusionsThis cross-sectional study shows that not all dog owners vaccinatetheir dogs and that the vaccines conferred protection beyond12 months. The Preventive vaccination against rabies virus is ahighly effective method for preventing rabies in humans and animals.Policies to enhance mass mandatory annual vaccination to achieve70% coverage should be implemented in order to eradicate rabies

Demographic Factors Influencing the Rabies Antibody Prevalence of Dogs in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Canine rabies is enzootic in Nigeria occurring in all parts of the country. Rabies has been reported in Niger state neighbouring the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the movement of rabid dogs between the neighbour states is possible. Hence, a study to determine the immune status of dogs in Abuja to rabies was necessary. A cross sectional study was carried out to assess the rabies antibody titre of owned dogs and the rabies knowledge, attitude and practices of the dog owners. Serum samples from 276 dogs were collected and a structured questionnaire administered to each dog owner using a personal interview method. Associations between the demographic variables, protection titres and knowledge attitude and practice (KAP) were assessed using χ2 analysis. Sera samples were analysed to measure for rabies antibodies using an indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Out of the 276 dogs sampled, 229 (83 %) had a certified antirabies vaccination record. All vaccinated dogs had antibody titre against rabies greater than 0.6 EU.ml–1. The dog owners had a mean knowledge score of 63.54 ± 23.82 %, mean attitude score of 81.45 ± 20.37 % and the mean practice score was 91.3 ± 21.39 %. There was a significant association between the vaccination status of the dogs and categorized knowledge score (P < 0.05), attitude score (P < 0.05) and practice score (P < 0.05). A large proportion of the dogs (47.4 %) owned by residents of satellite towns were not vaccinated against rabies. Hence mass vaccination of dogs in these suburban settlements is strongly recommende