Molecular epidemiology of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia by detection, identification and differentiation of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides in Niger State, Nigeria

The study was aimed at epidemiologically detecting, identifying, and differentiating Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides strains according to their geographical origins in asymptomatic cattle populations of Niger State, North-central Nigeria between January and August 2013, using conventional and fingerprinting PCR assays without culturing or enriching of the field samples. Cross sectional molecular study of asymptomatic cattle sampled in the major abattoirs and livestock markets was carried out. Geographical lineage differentiation of the strains was performed on the basis of presence or absence of 8.84 kb genomic segment. With primers pair MM450/MM451, two 574 bp genomic fragments of DNA of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides were detected. Using fingerprinting PCR; with insertion element IS1296/R(all) primers pair the detected two strains of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides genomic DNA were specifically identified by generation of a fragment of 1.1 kb; with IS1296/R1 primers pair, identified Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides strains were differentiated to be of African cluster by generation of 1.4 kb. The PCR procedures were sensitive and produced rapid results that identified two strains of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides of African/Australian origin. The presence of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides African/Australian strains, which is useful for vaccine production, was therefore established in Niger State, Nigeria.Keywords: Cattle, Control, Cross-sectional molecular study, Mmm , Molecular fingerprinting, Nigeri

Epizootiological Survey of Bovine Brucellosis in Nomadic Pastoral Camps in Niger State, Nigeria

Bovine brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease of cattle caused by members of the genus Brucella. A cross sectional study was conducted in three nomadic pastoral camps to determine seroprevalence of the disease and assess herders’ exiting veterinary knowledge and traditional oral history about the disease, using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools respectively.  Sample size of 87 was obtained for quantitative analysis while six key informants were conveniently selected for qualitative information. The within-camp seropositive varied between 1 (3.45%) in Paiko pastoral camp to 4 (13.79%) each in Bobi grazing reserve and Eyagi pastoral camps. The overall seroprevalence was 10.35%. Results of existing veterinary knowledge and traditional oral history exercises indicate that bovine brucellosis has high impact in nomadic pastoral cattle camps with strong agreements of W= 0.787, P<0.05 among the six key informants. They called bovine brucellosis (Bakkale) and described it as a cattle disease characterized by standing hair coat, fever, loss of appetite, swollen joints, and abortion and transmitted by ingestion and contact. The high prevalence observed calls for urgent government intervention towards public health enlightenment of pastoral nomads on the zoonotic nature and danger of the disease. Government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should initiate routine screening of pastoral nomads and their herds, especially those that are potential reservoirs and those at risk of exposure with consequent free treatment for animals and humans found positive.Keywords: Bovine brucellosis, seroprevalence, existing veterinary knowledge, pastoral camps

Factors affecting workers’ delivery of good hygienic and sanitary operations in slaughterhouses in north-central Nigeria

This survey assesses the levels of knowledge and preventive practices of workers on the hygienic and sanitary operations in slaughterhouses in Niger State, north-central Nigeria. A cross sectional survey was conducted on 385 workers aged 20 years and above between January 2013 and April 2013 using structured questionnaires and checklist to assess their knowledge and preventive practices about slaughterhouse operations. Majority  (94.0%) of the respondents were males and most (69.6%) were married. Majority (34.3%) of the workers were in the age group 30–39 years. The mean age of the workers was 40.8±10.7 years. One in five (19.2%) were illiterates. Majority of the respondents 95.6% and 96.4% for meat hygiene and sanitation respectively did not have any previous training. About two-third of the workers (74.5%) had poor knowledge about good slaughterhouse operations and more than two third (86.2%) engage in poor preventive practices. The slaughterhouse workers in the age group 60-69 years were less likely [OR 0.1345; 95% CI 0.0397, 0.4553)] to have poor knowledge of the operations than those in the 20-29 age group. The workers with secondary and tertiary education were less likely [OR 0.3557; 95% CI (0.1706, 0.7418) and OR 0.1259; 95% CI (0.0556, 0.2851) respectively] to have poor knowledge than those without formal education. Workers who know correct definition of slaughterhouse hygiene were less likely [OR 0.3125; 95% CI (0.1862, 0.5244)] to demonstrate poor preventive practices, and those who are aware of the effects of improper operations on public and environmental health were more likely [OR 6.587; 95% CI (4.094, 10.6)] to demonstrate satisfactory preventive practices. This survey indicates the need to sensitize and organize trainings for slaughterhouse workers to improve their knowledge of standard slaughterhouse operations to produce wholesome meat and safeguard public and environmental health.Keywords: Abattoir workers, knowledge, operations, preventive practices, slaughterhouse, Nigeri