Risk factors and knowledge of Brucella infection in camels, attitudes and practices of camel handlers in Katsina State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to determine the risk factors to brucellosis in one-humped (Dromedary) camels and to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of camel handlers to Brucellosis in Katsina State, Nigeria. Camels in herds and those brought to the abattoir for slaughter in the north and central senatorial districts of Katsina State were sampled for the study. Structured questionnaires were administered to determine knowledge, attitude and practices of camel handlers to camel brucellosis in Katsina state, Nigeria Modified Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT) with EDTA were used as screening and standard tests respectively. Out of a total of 980 camel sera tested, 11.2% and 10.5% were positive with RBPT and SAT, respectively. Female had OD 1.758 (95% CI = 1.157 – 2.669, p = 0.008) more chances of getting infected than males camels. There was statistical significant association (ᵡ2= 7.189, p = 0.007) observed in the prevalence rates in favour of females. It was also observed that camels of age group 16-20 years showed highest prevalence to brucellosis. There was statistical significant association (ᵡ2 = 13.602, p = 0.009) observed in the prevalence rates according to age. It was determined that there is very poor knowledge of camel brucellosis amongst stakeholders as a result they had a "lassez faire" attitude towards the disease and no practices towards prevention of infection either to them or their animals. There is the need to carry out awareness campaigns to enlighten camel owners, herdsmen, abattoir staff about the dangers of poor hygiene during meat and milk processing, the importance of use of protective clothing when carrying out these operations and the dangers of zoonotic diseases and the dangers of consumption of unpasteurized camel milk and milk products, the public health significance of the brucellosis and that there is the need to develop a strategic plan to decrease spread of brucellosis in the study area.Keywords: Brucella, Seroprevalence, Camels, KAP, Risk Factor

Artificial insemination practice in Nigeria – review of the dangers of disease transmission

The first documented cattle artificial insemination (AI) in Nigeria dated back to 1949. Other recorded cattle artificial insemination in the country could be traced to when the Federal Government of Nigeria under the auspices of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, established Artificial Insemination Unit at the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) in 1976. Various limiting factors and constraints that prevented artificial insemination from being popular in the country were mentioned. Various causes of infertility in animals were listed. The success or failure of artificial insemination practice as could be affected by microorganisms in the semen, semen preservatives, semen extenders and storage temperatures were discussed in relation to work already done in Nigeria and other countries. Keywords: Artificial insemination, semen, diseases, livestoc

Antimicrobial Effects of Acacia nilotica and Vitex doniana on the Thermophilic Campylobacter Species

This study was carried out to investigate the in vitro activity of the extracts of Acacia nilotica and Vitex doniana against Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, and C. laridis isolated from sheep in Zaria and Kaduna. Water and ethanol crude extracts of Acacia nilotica and Vitex doniana were tested on the thermophilic Campylobacter species. The results obtained show that ethanol extract of Acacia nilotica had minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) of 80 mg/ml, while water extract of the same plant gave an MIC of 250mg/ml. However, ethanol extracts of Vitex doniana had no inhibitory effects on the Campylobacter species tested. A. nilotica and Vitex doniana were used at concentrations ranging from 2 to 200mg/ml of the extracts. Ethanol extract of A. nilotica at concentration of 200mg/ ml and 20mg/ml had inhibitory diameters zone of 6mm and 4mm respectively. Water extract of the same plant at concentrations of 200mg and 20mg had diameters of only 2mm and 1 mm respectively. There was very little or no inhibitions with Vitex doniana water and ethanol extracts. The emergence of Campylobacter strains resistant to most common antibiotics highlights the need to explore new methods for therapeutics against Campylobacter infections. This study has demonstrated that extracts of Acacia nilotica show antibacterial activities against Campylobacter species isolated from sheep in Zaria and Kaduna. (Af. J. of Science and Technology: 2002 3(2): 9-13

Bacteriological investigation of sheep and goats milk for brucellosis in government farms in Northern Nigeria

Bacteriological investigations of sheep and goats brucellosis were carried out in Northern Nigeria. Seven government or quasi-government farms were investigated. A total of 418 sheep and goats milk samples were examined culturally. Investigation revealed a 34.75 per cent and 15.88 per cent rate of infection in goats and sheep by milk ring test. Of 277 sheep and 141 goats milk samples examined culturally, brucellae were isolated from four sheep and six goats giving a total of ten isolates. Biochemical and serological studies of the isolates revealed that they were Br. melitensis indicating Br. melitensis as probably the common cause of brucellosis in sheep and goats in the areas surveyed. The results show that there was greater chance of isolating Brucella from milk which were strongly positive than from those which were weakly positive. The economic importance and public health significance of brucellosis in sheep and goats are discussed. Keywords: Brucellosis, sheep, goats, Nigeri

Evaluation of gastrointestinal parasites in bile and faeces of cattle and sheep from Jos, Nigeria

The study assessed the prevalence and distribution of gastrointestinal parasites in bile and faeces of cattle and sheep from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Bile and faeces were collected from a total of 412 cattle and 390 sheep. Bile samples were analysed using sedimentation, while the faeces were subjected to standard floatation and sedimentation techniques. An overall prevalence of 77.91% and 75.90% was obtained respectively in cattle and sheep using all the employed techniques. For both species, obtained results did not vary significantly (p>0.05) based on the sex, age, breed and month of sample collection. However, significant (p<0.05) variation in prevalence was demonstrated in cattle and sheep based on the type of technique employed in the analysis of the samples. The prevalence based on the techniques employed was 62.53%, 23.05% and 28.88% by bile sedimentation, faecal sedimentation and faecal floatation respectively in cattle, while it was 23.07%, 21.79% and 65.89% respectively in sheep. Furthermore, Fasciola spp predominated the recovery in cattle with 146(35.78%), followed by Dicrocoelium hospes 129(31.62%), strongyle 124(30.39%), Paramphistomum spp. 1(0.25%), Moniezia benedini 1(0.25%), Schistosoma bovis 1(0.25%), Toxocara vitulorum 2(0.49%), Fasciola/Paramphistomum 1(0.25%), Fasciola/strongyle 1(0.25%), Fasciola/Schistosoma bovis 1(0.25%) and Fasciola/Toxocara vitulorum 1(0.25%). Infected sheep had 95(17.43%) Fasciola spp., 50(9.17%) Dicrocoelium hospes, 166(9.17%) strongyle, 13(2.39) Moniezia benedini, 139(25.50%) coccidia, 3(0.55%) Strongyloides papillosus, 11(2.08%) Fasciola spp./Dicrocoelium hospes, 2(0.37%) Strongyloides papillosus/coccidia, 58(10.64%) strongyle/coccidia, 6(1.10%) strongyle/Moniezia benedini, 1(0.18%) Moniezia benedini/coccidia and 1(0.18%) Moniezia/strongyle/coccidia. Incidentally, Schistosoma bovis and Toxocara vitulorum were recovered from the bile of cattle. Conclusively, the result showed high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of cattle and sheep. The finding of parasites such as Fasciola spp. in great number is of great epidemiological significance, in view of the economic and public health importance.Keywords: Parasite; Jos; prevalence; bile; faeces; sheep; cattl