A Retrospective Study of Rabies Cases Reported at Vom Christian Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria, 2006 – 2010

Rabies is a zoonosis of public health importance in Nigeria. Exposure to bites of rabid dogs is the cause of over 99% of human cases of rabies worldwide. Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is a vital aspect of clinical rabies prevention in humans The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of rabies disclosure among dogbite victims (DBVs) and their compliance with a PEP regimen. We reviewed patient records of DBVs who were treated at the Vom Christian Hospital, Plateau State, from 2006 – 2010, obtained information on patient demographics and rabies status of implicated dogs from patients' hospital records. A trend of reported rabid dog bites in children was determined. We assessed compliance of DBVs with the recommended dosage regimen for PEP which is local wound treatment followed by vaccine therapy on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 30. Over the five-year period, 713 DBVs were reported; 377(52.9%) were children <15 years, 404(56.7%) were males and 299 (41.9%) were bitten by laboratory-confirmed rabid dogs.Rabid dog-bites among children increased exponentially from 2007(6/1,000,000) to 2009(41/1,000,000) with a steep decline in 2010 (24/1,000,000). Of all DBVs, 677 (95%) first sought veterinary care. Of all implicated dogs, 305(42.8%) were tested and 299 (98.0%) were positive for rabies. Nearly all (99.6%) DBVs were treated using human diploidcell rabies vaccine, while only 49.1% completed the recommended doses. Of the 299 DBVs bitten by rabies-positive dogs, 59.2% completed the regimen and were likely to be PEP compliant than those bitten by untested dogs (p<0.01). No mortalities among DBVs were reported to the hospital. Rabies in dogs is a serious public health problem in Plateau State, in which children constitute the highest proportion of rabid DBVs reported. We recommend joint sensitization of physicians and veterinarians about the need for detailed DBV and animal information for rabies management.Keywords: Rabies, Dog bite victims, Post Exposure Prophylaxis, NigeriaNigerian Veterinary Journal, VOL:32 (4) 366-37

EVALUATION OF DOG SLAUGHTER AND CONSUMPTION PRACTICES RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF RABIES IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT The trade, slaughter and consumption of dog meats are some common attitudes and practices in subSaharan West African countries. These factors may represent a source of human rabies exposures and infections in the population of these countries and may be because of these only, still rabies remain endemic disease in Nigeria. Therefore, a survey was conducted during January, 2012 to July, 2012 for finding out the rational of dog meat consumption in Niger state, Nigeria. One hundred and fifty five volunteers (146 males and 9 females), consisting of dog butchers, consumers and those who leave around the slaughter points answered a questionnaire at five dog slaughter locations across the state. Information on the dogs slaughtered was also collected. The results revealed that 125 (80.6%) of the respondents consumed dog meat (4 females and 121 males). Only 12 (9.6%) were actually engaged in dog butchering who also identified that they purchased their dogs for slaughter from households within and outside their territories, not by personal breeding. None of the butchers were vaccinated against rabies. Regarding reasons for dog meat consumption, 80 (64%) respondents indicated that the meat was delicious, 23 (18.4%) claimed medicinal purposes, and 1 (0.8%) respondent believed that its consumption protected against the witches. Overall, 471 dogs were recorded to be slaughtered for human consumption during the study period. Despite their rational, the practices of dog trade, slaughter and consumption were detrimental to dogs as well as the control of rabies, particularly when evidence indicated that up to 28% of dogs slaughtered for human consumption in Nigeria may harbor the rabies virus. KEYWORDS Dog slaughter Dog consumption Rabies Nigeri

Brucellosis as an Emerging Threat in Developing Economies:Lessons from Nigeria

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, has a large proportion of the world's poor livestock keepers, and is a hotspot for neglected zoonoses. A review of the 127 accessible publications on brucellosis in Nigeria reveals only scant and fragmented evidence on its spatial and temporal distribution in different epidemiological contexts. The few bacteriological studies conducted demonstrate the existence of Brucella abortus in cattle and sheep, but evidence for B. melitensis in small ruminants is dated and unclear. The bulk of the evidence consists of seroprevalence studies, but test standardization and validation are not always adequately described, and misinterpretations exist with regard to sensitivity and/or specificity and ability to identify the infecting Brucella species. Despite this, early studies suggest that although brucellosis was endemic in extensive nomadic systems, seroprevalence was low, and brucellosis was not perceived as a real burden; recent studies, however, may reflect a changing trend. Concerning human brucellosis, no studies have identified the Brucella species and most reports provide only serological evidence of contact with Brucella in the classical risk groups; some suggest brucellosis misdiagnoses as malaria or other febrile conditions. The investigation of a severe outbreak that occurred in the late 1970s describes the emergence of animal and human disease caused by the settling of previously nomadic populations during the Sahelian drought. There appears to be an increasing risk of re-emergence of brucellosis in sub-Saharan Africa, as a result of the co-existence of pastoralist movements and the increase of intensive management resulting from growing urbanization and food demand. Highly contagious zoonoses like brucellosis pose a threat with far-reaching social and political consequences

Phenotypic variability among strains of Pasteurella multocida isolated from avian, bovine, caprine, leporine and ovine origin

Phenotypic diversity among 69 field isolates plus 3 vaccine strains previously identified as Pasteurella multocida were investigated by extended phenotypic characterization. The field isolates were obtainedin Nigeria from chickens (15 isolates), quail (5 isolates), cattle (31 isolates), goats (7 isolates), sheep (8 isolates), rabbits (3 isolates) and the vaccine strains (3 isolates), which are used as prophylaxis againstfowl cholera and haemorrhagic septicaemia diseases. Consistent results were obtained for all isolates in the test for Gram reaction, oxidase, catalase, urease, no growth on MacConkey agar and nitratereduction. All isolates also fermented D-glucose, D-mannitol, and sucrose but failed to ferment lactose. The isolates differed in their ability to ferment L-arabinose, D-dulcitol, D-sorbitol, D-xylose and in the production of indole and H2S in triple sugar iron agar resulting in the identification of 8 biochemical types or biovars. Dulcitol and sorbitol fermentation patterns meant that the isolates (including thevaccine strains) could be identified as subspecies Pasteurella multocida multocida (74%), Pasteurella multocida septica (18%), or Pasteurella multocida gallicida (8%). The subspecies P. m. multocida was demonstrated in all the animal species and the vaccine strains. Among the animal species studied, P.m. septica was demonstrated in all but the leporine species while P.m. gallicida was demonstrated only in the avian and ovine species. This characterization study adds to the considerable phenotypic variability that has been reported within the P. multocida taxon

Isolation Of Haemophilus Somnus From Pneumonic Lung In Slaughtered White Fulani Cattle In Jos, Nigeria

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Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria species in poul try faeces applied as manure on farm lands: Environmental health and food safety

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