Prevalence and Predictors of Risk Factors for Brucellosis Transmission by Meat Handlers and Traditional Healers’ Risk Practices in Ibadan, Nigeria

Introduction: Brucellosis is endemic in Nigeria and risk factors enhancing its transmission are prevalent.Methods: Following serological evidence of brucellosis and isolation of B. abortus from slaughtered cattle in Ibadan, Nigeria, we administered a semi-structured questionnaire to determine the prevalence and predictors of eating and selling bovine gravid uterus among 350 meat handlers from five major meat processing facilities and conducted key informant interview for five leading traditional healers to document its use. Data were analysed using Stata 12.Results: The prevalence of eating and selling gravid uterus were respectively, 29.7% and 40.3%. Being meat/offal processor (OR=1.9, 95%CI: 1.11-3.3, P =0.008), male (OR=1.7, 95%CI: 0.1-3.03, P =0.023) and not knowing that eating undercooked contaminated gravid uterus could expose humans to brucellosis (OR=2.4, 95%CI: 1.56-3.62, P =0.000) were strong predictors of eating gravid uterus. Similarly, being adult (OR=1.7, 95%CI: 1.08-2.57, P =0.02) and inadequate knowledge of brucellosis as a zoonosis (OR=2.9, 95%CI: 1.71-4.92, P =0.000) strongly predicted selling gravid uterus. Qualitative data from the traditional healers revealed using gravid uterus as special medicinal preparations to hasten parturition in overdue pregnancies, treat infertility and old age diseases in humans.Discussions: We demonstrated high prevalence of risk factors for brucellosis transmission and some meat handlers’ socio-demographic characteristics including brucellosis knowledge-based markers as predictors of these factors. The traditional healers’ practices portend a challenge to the current brucellosis control strategy. These findings provide insights into designing all-inclusive health programmes aimed at controlling brucellosis spread in Nigeria and other similar settings in developing countries

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

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 risk 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, attitude 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).Conclusion: 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

Sero-epidemiological survey and risk factors associated with brucellosis in dogs in 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.Pan African Medical Journal 2016; 2

Porcine cysticercosis in slaughtered pigs and factors related to Taenia solium transmission amongst abattoir workers in Ibadan, Nigeria

Introduction: porcine cysticercosis is under-reported particularly in Nigeria, despite the reportedly high prevalence of epilepsy and associated life-threatening health implications. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis and factors related to Taenia solium transmission to humans. Methods: slaughtered pigs at a major abattoir, south-western Nigeria were randomly inspected and questionnaire was administered to pig workers/consumers while the data were analysed using Stata 12.0. Results: a 4.4% (11/250) prevalence of porcine cysticercosis was obtained; the age, breed, sex and body conditions of pigs were not significant for infection (p < 0.05). Further, none (0.0%) of the respondents knew that T. solium could cause epilepsy in man and 39.5% often defaecated on neighbouring open fields and farmlands. Respondents purchasing pork from home slaughter were about four and 10 times less likely to demonstrate good knowledge (OR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.08-0.74) and practice (OR = 0.10; 95% CI: 0.05-0.22) than those purchasing from abattoir. Moreover, those lacking toilet facility were about four and five times less likely to demonstrate good knowledge (OR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.07-0.86) and practice (OR = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.08-0.45) than those who had it. Other factors associated with practices related to T. solium transmission included age (p = 0.000), sex (p = 0.000) and duration (p = 0.003). Conclusion: the increased odds of poor knowledge and practices related to Taenia solium transmission especially among respondents purchasing home slaughter pork and lacking toilet facility provides insights into the parasite epidemiology. Above findings are important in lowering the infection prevalence in pigs and humans in this endemic area

Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in slaughtered cattle and factors associated with risk of disease transmission among cattle handlers at Oko-Oba Abattoir, Lagos, Nigeria

Background and Aim: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a zoonotic disease of major public health importance, especially in many developing countries, including Nigeria, where control measures are largely not applied, and the risks of human infection are high. This study was aimed at determining the current prevalence of bTB in slaughtered cattle and identifying factors associated with the risk of disease transmission among cattle handlers toward making informed control measures to limit human-animal interface disease transmission. Materials and Methods: Serum samples at slaughter and lesions suggestive of bTB collected during postmortem examination of 187 slaughtered cattle at the Oko–Oba Abattoir, Agege, Lagos State, Nigeria, were subjected to lateral flow and Ziehl–Neelsen (ZN) techniques, respectively. Furthermore, a structured questionnaire was interviewer-administered to 156 cattle handlers to investigate associated exposure factors to bTB infection. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of bTB in cattle was 25.7% and 7.0% by lateral flow technique and ZN, respectively. The seropositivity was highest in cattle with poor body condition (50.0%), then with good (36.4%) and fair (25.0%) body conditions. The questionnaire survey revealed that being in livestock handling business for >6 years (p=0.001), not knowing the mode of transmission (p=0.02) and ignoring TB lesions at slaughter (p=0.02) were exposure factors associated with increased risk of bTB infection among the cattle handlers. Further, multivariate analysis showed that those who spent more than 6 years in livestock handling were about 4 times (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=3.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.1-7.6, p=0.01) more likely to be exposed to bTB infection than those with lesser years. Again, respondents who called the attention of meat inspectors on seeing lesions in animals were about 4 times less likely to be exposed to bTB infection than those who ignored it (AOR=0.3; CI=0.1-0.8, p=0.01). Conclusion: This study has reiterated the endemicity of bTB in cattle population in Nigeria, with the prevalence of 25.7% and 7.0% of bTB by lateral flow and ZN techniques, respectively. This portends potential risk for disease transmission at the human-animal interface, particularly at the abattoir setting. The study also identified important knowledge and practice gaps which would enable informed, all-inclusive, and well-directed programs for effective control of the disease in both human and cattle populations

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

<div><p>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.</p></div

Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents in Nigeria (N = 510).

<p>Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents in Nigeria (N = 510).</p

Factors influencing levels of practices about zoonotic TB prevention amongst livestock workers in Nigeria (N = 510).

<p>Factors influencing levels of practices about zoonotic TB prevention amongst livestock workers in Nigeria (N = 510).</p

Knowledge and practices about zoonotic tuberculosis prevention and associated determinants amongst livestock workers in Nigeria; 2015 - Fig 1

<p>Maps of the three States showing locations where the study was carried out: (a) Ogun (b) Ebonyi (c) Sokoto.</p

Factors influencing levels of knowledge about zoonotic TB prevention amongst livestock workers in Nigeria (N = 510).

<p>Factors influencing levels of knowledge about zoonotic TB prevention amongst livestock workers in Nigeria (N = 510).</p