Preliminary field survey on Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle herds using caudal fold intradermal tuberculin test in two Northeastern States of Nigeria

Aim: A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in two states of Northeastern Nigeria, namely Bauchi and Gombe States, between February 2010 and November 2014 using caudal fold tuberculin (CFT) skin test. Materials and Methods: A total of 5489 cattle were screened using single CFT in Bauchi and Gombe States. Of the 5489 cattle, 2116 cattle were from 189 herds in five testing areas in Bauchi State and 3373 cattle in 217 herds from five testing areas from Gombe State. Results: On the basis of the CFT, herd prevalence obtained was 56.08% in Bauchi and 55.29% in Gombe State, while the individual animal prevalence was 10.96% in Bauchi and 13.73% obtained in Gombe State. The prevalence based on the testing areas in Bauchi State, Alamari had the highest prevalence with 19.4 % and Disina the lowest with 9.0 %, while in Gombe State, Wakaltu had the highest prevalence with 20.9 % and Poshereng the lowest with 8.0 %. Cows were more likely to have tuberculosis lesions than bulls (p=0.0035) in Bauchi State, but there was no significant difference in Gombe State (p=0.166). However, a statistically significant association (p<0.05) was observed among the cattle age groups with cattle ≥4 years having higher odds for tuberculin reactivity compared to those below the age of 4 years in Bauchi State only. Conclusion: There is the need to strengthen routine meat inspection and public health awareness programs on the zoonotic nature of bTB among the abattoir workers and the herdsmen

Risk factors assessment of bovine tuberculosis among abattoir personnel in Gombe State, Northeastern Nigeria: A One-Health approach

Aim: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an important milk-borne zoonosis that affects cattle production and poses serious threat to public health. This study aimed at assessing the risk factors as well as the level of awareness, attitude, and practices of abattoir personnel toward bTB in Gombe Township Abattoir, Gombe State. Materials and Methods: A prospective survey was conducted between October 2015 and December 2015. During the survey, a total of 112 close-ended structured questionnaires were administered to the abattoir personnel to assess their level of awareness of bTB. Results: Of these respondents, the majority were males (79%), butchers (49%) and about 40% were under the productive age brackets of 26-35 years. Majority of the respondents (85.7%) were aware of the zoonotic nature of the disease. However, only a few of the respondents (44.6%) wear personal protective equipments (PPEs) clothes while handling or in contact with carcasses during the slaughtering process. Only a few among the respondents (24.1% and 31.2%) consumed unpasteurized milk and unaware of eating of improperly cooked meat as a risk factor of bTB, respectively. About 75.7% of the respondents believed that the habit of eating and drinking inside the abattoir and during slaughtering operations has no any significant effects on their health. The results obtained show a statistically significant association between respondents' awareness of bTB and their occupational status, duration of exposure to cattle carcasses, and knowledge about the disease (p<0.05); and the odds of being aware of bTB was 10.0, 5.07, and 4.2, respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the need for public health authorities to intervene in bTB prevention and control through the creation of avenues for enlightenment on the zoonotic risk associated with bTB. The risk factors associated with bTB transmission as indicated by the personnel's practice and awareness levels in Gombe township abattoir are preventable through the use of PPEs clothing

Factors associated with preventive behaviors, anxiety among healthcare workers and response preparedness against COVID-19 outbreak: A one health approach

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2) is the causative agent of COVID-19. This study aimed to assess the preventive behavior, and responses to national preparedness and response readiness to the COVID-19 outbreak by Healthcare workers in Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1200 HCW was carried out, three hundred and forty-six (346) responded to the online questionnaire on demographic characteristics, national preparedness, and preventive behavior towards COVID-19 by HCWs. Descriptive analysis of variables in the form of tables and graphs was carried out. A binary logistic regression analysis was applied and expressed as odds ratio (OR) at a 95% confidence interval (C·I) and p-value of 0.05 as significant values. Results: Of the (346) HCWs, 249 (72.0%) were males, 214 (61.8%) belong to the age group 30–39 years, age group of between 20 and 49 years were more likely to be anxious about been infected of SARS-CoV-2. HCWs in the S.E. region were 35 times more likely to use a face mask (OR 35.0; 95% C·I 3.48–370.41; P = 0.0003), and 140 (40.5%) of the HCWs supported one health approach for containing the spread of COVID-19. HCWs were anxious (OR = 5.885; 95% C·I: 1.634–20.973; p = 0.007) about their families becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2 because of their occupation. Conclusion: The national preparedness and response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria were below expectations. Healthcare workers were worried about infection with SARS-CoV-2. One health approach is recommended for the fight against the infectious disease of animal origin like COVID-19

Occurrence and Distribution of bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) in Slaughtered cattle in the abattoirs of Bauchi State, Nigeria

Aim: This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in slaughtered cattle in Bauchi State, Nigeria. The cause (s) of grossly suspected bTB lesions encountered at the abattoirs during post-mortem (PM), as whether due to Mycobacterium bovis alone or together with other acid fast bacilli (AFB). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional abattoir based study was conducted on 800 cattle slaughtered in the Northern, Central and Southern zonal abattoirs of Bauchi State, Nigeria, from June to August 2013; using PM meat inspection, Ziehl- Neelsen staining (ZN) and confirmatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. Results: The occurrence of bTB lesions from the organs of slaughtered cattle in Bauchi State, showed that the lungs had the highest number of suspected tissues 65 (54.20%), followed by the lymph nodes 28 (23.30%) while the heart, liver, spleen, intestines and mammary glands had the other 8.3%, 6.7%, 5.0%, 1.7%, and 0.8%, suspected tissues respectively. By ZN microscopic staining all 100% (2/2) of the intestines were positive for bTB, followed by the heart with 50% (5/10), then the lungs 29.23% (19/65); while the liver, lymph nodes, and spleen had 25%, 21.43% and 16.67% respectively were tested positive for bTB. It was only the mammary gland that tested negative for bTB in all the suspected tissues sampled. By PCR, the intestines had the highest positive bTB with 100% (2/2), followed by the liver with 12.5% (1/8), and then the lungs with 7.8% (5/65). The lymph nodes had 7.14% (2/28) tissues that tested positive for bTB. However, the spleen, heart and mammary gland were all tested negative with 0%; indicating that the false positive for bTB detected by ZN were confirmed by PCR. While based on the location of the abattoirs in the three senatorial zones of Bauchi State, Bauchi zonal abattoir had the highest number of suspected bTB cases 75 (62.50%), followed by Katagum zonal slaughter house with 32 (26.7%) and then Misau with 13 (10.8%). By the ZN staining technique, there were 25 (33.33%) positivity in Bauchi Zonal abattoir, while Katagum and Misau abattoirs had 9 (28.13%) and 1 (7.72%) positive respectively. By the PCR technique, 9 (12.00%), 1 (3.13%) and 0 (0.00%) positive cases were recorded for Bauchi, Katagum and Misau abattoirs respectively. Conclusion: The present study estimated the prevalence rate of bTB in Bauchi State, using PM, ZN and PCR techniques at 15.0%, 29.16% and 8.33%, respectively. Bovine TB lesions found at PM were not all due to M. bovis alone, as other MTBC and AFB organisms may cause bTB-like lesions that were excluded by PCR specific primers. The prevalence of bTB was higher in Bauchi abattoir that supplies larger population of the state with beef. These findings also demonstrate the urgent need for public health authorities in the state to intervene in the control of the zoonotic bTB

Morphometric Study on the Developing Kidneys of the Prenatal Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius)

A morphometric study was carried out on the developing kidneys of forty (40) apparently normal fetal dromedary, one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) sampled at the Metropolitan abattoir, Maiduguri, Nigeria. The fetuses were obtained from the four prenatal developmental phases of the dromedary: 2 – 4 months, 4 – 7 months, 7 – 10 months and 10 – 13 months. The renal length and diameter showed significant progressive increase in sizes (p&lt;0.005 to 0.001), so were the renal cortical and medullary lengths (p&lt;0.001).  The absolute mean weights of the prenatal kidneys showed significant increase across the growth periods (p&lt;0.001). These progressive increases in absolute mean renal weights were without corresponding increases in the relative mean renal weights known with organ system establishment in mammals. Thus, the dromedary was concluded to have a unique pattern of kidney development

Polio eradication in Nigeria: evaluation of the quality of acute flaccid paralysis surveillance documentation in Bauchi state, 2016

Abstract Background Nigeria is the only country in Africa that is yet to be certified as polio free. Surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is the foundation of the polio eradication initiative since it provides information to alert both health managers and clinician that timely actions should be initiated to interrupt transmission of the polio virus. The strategy also provides evidence for the absence of wild poliovirus. This evaluation was performed to assess key quality indicators defined by the polio eradication program and thus to identify gaps to allow planning for corrective measures to achieve a polio-free situation in Bauchi state and in Nigeria at large. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study which involved a desk review of documents to authenticate the correctness and completeness of data, and a review of documented evidence for the quality of AFP surveillance. We interviewed Local Government Authority (LGA) surveillance officers and clinicians from focal and non-focal sites, along with caregivers of children with AFP and community leaders. The data were entered and analyzed in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of the AFP surveillance and documentation in eighteen of the twenty Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Bauchi State. We assessed the knowledge of the clinician at focal and non-focal sites on case definition of AFP, the number and method of stool specimen collection to investigate a case and types of training received for AFP surveillance. We verified AFP case investigations for the last three years: The caregivers (mothers) were interviewed to authenticate the reported information of AFP cases, the method used for stool specimen collection and feedbacks. Community leaders’ knowledge on AFP surveillance was also assessed. Data was entered and analyzed in excel spread sheet. Results Of the 18 LGA Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs), only 2 (11%) and 5 (28%) had reports of polio outbreak investigations and supervisory visits at the lower levels, respectively. Furthermore, only 6 (33%) and 7 (39%) of the DSNOs had minutes of meetings and surveillance work plans, respectively. Of the 31 AFP cases investigated, only 39, 26, 23, and 23% had correct and complete information for the birth day, birth month, date of onset of paralysis, and date of investigation, respectively. Seventy-one percent of the clinicians at the AFP focal sites knew the correct definition for AFP compared with only 30% at the non-focal sites. Of the 38 caregivers (mothers), 16 (42%) did not remember the day or month the AFP investigation was conducted. However, 95% gave a correct number of stool samples collected and 40% mentioned that the samples were collected 24 h apart. Feedback was not given to 26 (68%) of the caregivers. The majority (79%) of the community leaders knew how to recognize a case of AFP and knew that the stool was the specimen required for the investigation, but 21% did not know to whom they should report a case of AFP in their community. Conclusion This study revealed a gap in the quality indicators for polio eradication in the state, especially regarding knowledge and documentation for AFP surveillance at the operational level. Regular training of the DSNOs and focal persons, regular sensitization of clinicians, community education, supplies of reporting tools, and ensuring their judicious use will improve AFP surveillance in the state

Exploring the cost-effectiveness of high versus low perioperative fraction of inspired oxygen in the prevention of surgical site infections among abdominal surgery patients in three low- and middle-income countries

Background: This study assessed the potential cost-effectiveness of high (80–100%) vs low (21–35%) fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) at preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) after abdominal surgery in Nigeria, India, and South Africa. Methods: Decision-analytic models were constructed using best available evidence sourced from unbundled data of an ongoing pilot trial assessing the effectiveness of high FiO2, published literature, and a cost survey in Nigeria, India, and South Africa. Effectiveness was measured as percentage of SSIs at 30 days after surgery, a healthcare perspective was adopted, and costs were reported in US dollars ($). Results: High FiO2 may be cost-effective (cheaper and effective). In Nigeria, the average cost for high FiO2 was$216 compared with $222 for low FiO2 leading to a −$6 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −$13 to −$1) difference in costs. In India, the average cost for high FiO2 was $184 compared with$195 for low FiO2 leading to a −$11 (95$15 to −$6) difference in costs. In South Africa, the average cost for high FiO2 was$1164 compared with $1257 for low FiO2 leading to a −$93 (95% CI: −$132 to −$65) difference in costs. The high FiO2 arm had few SSIs, 7.33% compared with 8.38% for low FiO2, leading to a −1.05 (95% CI: −1.14 to −0.90) percentage point reduction in SSIs. Conclusion: High FiO2 could be cost-effective at preventing SSIs in the three countries but further data from large clinical trials are required to confirm this