Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) prevalence and exposure factors associated with seropositivity of cattle in north-central, Nigeria

This study was designed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with foot-andmouth disease (FMD) seropositivity in north central, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was undertaken from February 2013 to April 2014 using 1206 sera from 150 herds collected by multi-stage and random sampling methods. Pre-tested questionnaire were also administered to participating farmers to collect information on the animal herd structure, movement pattern, management system and herds contact at watering points. Samples collected were tested for evidence of FMD antibodies using the 3ABC nonstructural antibodies enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The overall seroprevalence of FMD in North-Central Nigeria was found to be 70.98% (95% CI: 68.37-73.49). FMD seroprevalence was found to be higher in Niger State 85.4% (95% CI: 83.46-88.03) relative to Plateau State 54.2% (95% CI: 50.12-58.16), which was statistically associated with FMD seropositivity (P<0.05). Risk factors such as sex, management system, trans-boundary crossing and herd mixing at the watering point were found to be statistically associated with FMD seropositivity (p<0.05). This confirms that FMD is enzootic in the study area and control of foot and mouth disease in Nigeria using animal movement control and vaccination is therefore advocated.Keywords: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), prevalence, endemic, serotypes, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), antibodie

Isolation and serotyping of foot-and-mouth disease virus in cattle collected from north central, Nigeria

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a disease of socio-economic importance which affects cattle, swine, Sheep, goats, and more than 70 wildlife species causing loss of production and with high mortalities in the young animals.The aim of this study was to isolate and serotype foot-and mouth disease (FMD) viruses collected innorth central Nigeria, using the goat tongue cell line (ZZ-R 127). ZZ-R 127 cell line was used for the virus isolation and antigen Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for FMDV serotypes O, A, SAT 1 & SAT 2 was used for the serotyping of the viruses. The ZZ-R 127 continuous cell line yielded rapid results with cytopathic effect (CPE) within 24 hours post inoculation. FMD viruses were isolated from twenty samples (n=20) out of the twenty two (n=22) collected. Antigen capture ELISA (Ag-ELISA) revealed thirteen (n=13) strains of serotype O, three (n=3) strains of serotype A, and four (n=4) strains of serotype SAT 2 with no virus detected in two samples.Therefore, the use of ZZ-R 127 continuous cell line yielded rapid results within 24 hours of post inoculation compared to BHK-21 that may not give result at first passages. The ZZ-R 27 cell line is relatively easy to handle, maintain and cheaper for FMDV diagnosis in endemic countries like Nigeria, compared to bovine thyroid gland (BYT).This study has confirmed the suitability of ZZ-R 127 in the primary isolation of viruses from clinical specimens with less turnaround time to generate results. Therefore, for rapid sensitive and specific laboratory assays, the use of ZZ-R 127 and Ag-ELISA for FMD diagnosis in endemic countries is strongly recommended.Keywords: Isolation, Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus, field samples, cytopathic effect, Nigeri

Abattoir wastewater quality in South Western Nigeria

Abattoir wastewater may be defined as water that has been used in the cleaning up of slaughtered cattle, sheep, goat and pig carcasses, the floor of slaughter hall, personnel and slaughter equipment. Abattoir wastewater is characterized by presence of high concentration of whole blood of the slaughtered food animals and suspended particles of semi-digested and undigested feeds within the stomach and intestine of slaughtered and dressed food animals. Since slaughtering and dressing of food animals take place in an abattoir, it becomes easier to refer to the wastewater from this industrial system as “abattoir wastewater”. This study determined the physico-chemical and patho-bacteriological qualities of abattoir wastewater from Bodija Municipal Abattoir in Ibadan city, South Western Nigeria