Microbial hazards associated with pig carcasses and molecular detection of enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus at different stages of the slaughter process

Foodborne diseases have sparked a wave of continuous public health concern and the need for proactive measures to be taken in our  communities. This study is aimed at determining the microbiological hazards associated with the pig slaughter process, assess the critical control points and screen for enterotoxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus. Three pig slaughter and processing facilities located within Makurdi town, Nigeria were utilized for the study. Swabs from carcasses during the slaughter process and the butchers’ hands, water used for washing carcasses and meat samples were all processed using standard bacteriological procedures. A total of 241 samples consisting of 150 swabs from 50 carcasses, 32 hand swabs, 9 water and 50 meat samples were evaluated during the study period. Aerobic plate counts (APC) and total coliform bacteria counts (TCBC) were evaluated. The mean APC at the different sampling sites ranged from 7.89 to 8.18 logCFU/cm2 while the mean TCBC ranged from 6.70 to 7.45 logCFU/cm2 . APC and TCBC were significantly different (P<0.05) between the same stages of processing in different sampling locations, however, there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) in samples obtained from the butchers’ hands, although water samples generally had the highest mean APC (8.35 logCFU/ml). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 54 (22%) of the 241 samples with 8 (13.8%) of the isolates harbouring one or more enterotoxin genes (sea-17.5% and sed-2.5%). Bleeding, evisceration/splitting, transportation to retail outlets and all stages involving washing were identified as critical control points. Pork consumers in Makurdi were advised to properly cook pork before eating to prevent possible infection and/or intoxication. Keywords: Aerobic plate count, Carcass, Contamination, Enterotoxin, Points, Pork, Total coliform bacteria coun

Phenotypic occurrence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in camels slaughtered at Kano abattoir, Kano, Nigeria

To assess the occurrence of MRSA among camels in Kano abattoir, a total of 300 nasal swabs were collected from camels at the lairage in Kano abattoir, Kano state, Nigeria to isolate and biochemically characterize Staphylococcus aureus and confirm methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among isolates using oxacillin resistance screening agar basal medium, disc diffusion method, PCR and also through detection of penicillin binding protein 2’. Samples were collected into universal sample bottles containing trypticase soy broth with 6.5% Nacl. amples ere incubated at 37oC for 24 hrs and sub-cultured on Baird Parker agar (Oxoid Ltd, Basingstoke, UK). Suspect Staphylococcus spp isolates were confirmed using coagulase, DNAse, haemolysis and sugar fermentation tests (mannitol, sucrose, lactose, mannose and xylose). Fifteen of the 42 isolated Staphylococcus aureus were confirmed to be MRSA on oxacillin resistance screening agar basal medium of which 12 were also resistant to oxacillin using disc diffusion method. Five (33.3%) of the 15 isolates were confirmed to be MRSA using the PBP2 latex agglutination test kit. The isolates were however negative for mec A by PCR. The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA was higher in males than in females, but this difference was found to be statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). Multidrug resistance was displayed by all Staphylococcus aureus isolates with 100% resistance to ampicillin and penicillin, but 97.6% of the isolates were susceptible to amikacin and 90% to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. There was no statistically significant difference in antibiotic resistance between Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA to amikacin, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, cloxacillin, erythromycin, gentamicin, penicillin, tetracycline, sulphamethoxazole, vancomycin ( p-value > 0.0), but there was statistical significance to oxacillin (p = 0.0001; OR = 0.7143). MRSA strains were found in 5% of camels and thus may play a potential role in disseminating the pathogen between animals and humans as well as within the community.Keywords: Camels, Kano abattoir, Occurrence, Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Multidrug resistanc

Seroprevalence of Brucella infection in small ruminants from two institutional farms and a slaughter slab in Zaria, Nigeria

Brucellosis has continued to become a disease of major economic concern in developing countries. In a study to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis in small ruminants in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, 1036 samples comprising 768 goats from institutional farms (n=384) and a slaughter slab (n=384), and 268 sheep all from institutional farms were used. The sera samples obtained from the animals were subjected to the Modified Rose Bengal Plate Test (m-RBPT) followed by Serum Agglutination Test with ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (SAT-EDTA) for Brucella antibodies detection. Milk samples were collected from lactating sheep and goats and subjected to the Milk Ring Test (MRT) for detection of Brucella antibodies. Results of the study revealed an overall seroprevalence rate of 6.37%, 8.90% and 12.96% for m-RBPT, SAT-EDTA and MRT, respectively. The seroprevalence in sheep and goats showed significant species difference (P < 0.05) for m-RBPT (10.05% vs 5.08%), but insignificant (P > 0.05) species difference for SAT-EDTA (9.33% vs 8.72%) and MRT (15.00% vs 11.76%) respectively. The seroprevalence in males and females showed insignificant sex difference (P > 0.05) for m-RBPT (6.59% vs 6.21%) and SAT-EDTA (7.76% vs 9.66%). On the other hand, the seroprevalence was higher in young (< 1 year old) than adult (> 1 year old) animals for SAT-EDTA (15.32% vs 8.11%). The seroprevalence in Red Sokoto, Sahel and West African Dwarf goats showed significant breed difference (P < 0.05) for m-RBPT (4.59% vs 5.55% vs 8.33%) and SAT-EDTA (6.80% vs 16.67% vs 12.50%). It was concluded that the seroprevalence of brucellosis was higher in sheep, Sahel goats and younger animals. To understand the pattern and dynamics of transmission of brucellosis in different groups of animals, there is the need for further studies to identify the Brucella species circulating in small ruminants. Keywords: Antibodies, Brucellosis, m-RBPT, SAT-EDTA, Small ruminant

Quality assessment of commercially available Newcastle disease vaccine in Lagos State, Nigeria

No Abstract

Foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype SAT1 in cattle, Nigeria.

&lt;p&gt;The knowledge of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) dynamics and epidemiology in Nigeria and the West Africa subregion is important to support local and regional control plans and international risk assessment. Foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype South African territories (SAT)1 was isolated, identified and characterized from an FMD outbreak in cattle in Nigeria in 2015, 35 years after the last report of FMDV SAT1 in West Africa. The VP1 coding sequence of the Nigerian 2015 SAT1 isolates diverges from reported SAT1 topotypes resulting in a separate topotype. The reporting of a novel FMDV SAT1 strain in the virus pool 5 (West and Central Africa) highlights the dynamic and complex nature of FMDV in this region of Africa. Sustained surveillance is needed to understand the origin, the extent and distribution of this novel SAT1 topotype in the region as well as to detect and monitor the occurrence of (re-)emerging FMDV strains.&lt;/p&gt;</p

Detection and Molecular Characterization of Foot and Mouth Disease Viruses from Outbreaks in Some States of Northern Nigeria 2013-2015.

&lt;p&gt;Control measures for foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Nigeria have not been implemented due to the absence of locally produced vaccines and risk-based analysis resulting from insufficient data on the circulating FMD virus (FMDV) serotypes/strains. In 2013-2015, blood and epithelial samples were collected from reported FMD outbreaks in four states (Kaduna, Kwara, Plateau and Bauchi) in northern Nigeria. FMDV non-structural protein (NSP) seroprevalence for the outbreaks was estimated at 80% (72 of 90) and 70% (131 of 188) post-outbreak. Antibodies against FMDV serotypes O, A, SAT1, SAT2 and SAT3 were detected across the states using solid-phase competitive ELISA. FMDV genome was detected in 99% (73 of 74) of the samples from FMD-affected animals using rRT-PCR, and cytopathic effect was found in cell culture by 59% (44 of 74) of these samples. Three FMDV serotypes O, A and SAT2 were isolated and characterized. The phylogenetic assessments of the virus isolates showed that two topotypes of FMDV serotype O, East Africa-3 (EA-3) and West Africa (WA) topotypes were circulating, as well as FMDV strains belonging to the Africa genotype (G-IV) of serotype A and FMDV SAT2 topotype VII strains. While the serotype O (EA-3) strains from Nigeria were most closely related to a 1999 virus strain from Sudan, the WA strain in Nigeria shares genetic relationship with three 1988 viruses in Niger. The FMDV serotype A strains were closely related to a known virus from Cameroon, and the SAT2 strains were most closely related to virus subtypes in Libya. This study provides evidence of co-occurrence of FMDV serotypes and topotypes in West, Central, East and North Africa, and this has implication for control. The findings help filling the knowledge gap of FMDV dynamics in Nigeria and West Africa subregion to support local and regional development of vaccination-based control plans and international risk assessment.&lt;/p&gt;</p