A meta-analysis of the prevalence of African animal trypanosomiasis in Nigeria from 1960 to 2017

Abstract Background African animal trypanosomiasis is an economically significant disease that affects the livestock industry in Nigeria. It is caused by several parasites of the genus Trypanosoma. National estimates of the disease prevalence in livestock and tsetse flies are lacking, therefore a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to understand the trend of the disease prevalence over the years. Methods Publications were screened in Web of Science, Ovid MEDLINE, Global Health, EMBASE and PubMed databases. Using four-stage (identification, screening, eligibility and inclusion) process in the PRIMSA checklist, only studies that met the inclusion criteria for AAT and tsetse infections were analysed. Point estimates prevalence and subgroup analyses based on diagnostic techniques in livestock were evaluated at 95% confidence interval (CI). Results A total of 74 eligible studies published between 1960 and 2017 were selected for meta-analysis. This covers the six geopolitical zones, involving a total of 53,924 animals. The overall prevalence of AAT was 16.1% (95% CI: 12.3–20.3%). Based on diagnostic techniques, the prevalence of AAT in cattle was highest in PCR followed by serology and microscopy while the highest prevalence in pigs was observed with serology. Out of 12,552 tsetse flies examined from 14 eligible studies, an overall prevalence of 17.3% (95% CI: 4.5–36.0%) and subgroup prevalence of 49.7% (95% CI: 30.7–68.8%), 11.5% (95% CI: 6.1–18.5) and 4.5% (95% CI: 1.8–8.8%) in G. morsitans, G. tachinoides and G. palpalis, respectively, were observed using the random effects-model. Conclusions The prevalence of trypanosomes in both vectors and animal hosts was high in Nigeria. Therefore, further research on risk factors, seasonal and transhumance effects, vectoral capacity and competence are warranted for an effective control of AAT in Nigeria

Modeling the dynamics of Onchocerca volvulus with the impact of environmental factors on blackfly breeding sites

Onchocerciasis is a significant public health concern, characterized by infections affecting the eyes and skin. The environmental factors contributing to its widespread occurrence are frequently undervalued, despite their significant influence. This research introduces an innovative mathematical model that utilizes fractional derivatives to examine the impact of several important variables, including temperature, river velocity, and oxygen concentration, on the breeding locations of blackflies. The objective of our study is to improve comprehension regarding the influence of environmental elements on the dynamics of onchocerciasis transmission. The efficacy of multiple vector control tactics and host screening approaches, such as skin snip biopsy and continuous detection at healthcare facilities, is evaluated through a series of comprehensive numerical experiments. Our results highlights the potential effectiveness of implementing comprehensive vector management strategies, in conjunction with frequent host screening techniques, in substantially decreasing the rates of disease transmission. Our study specifically emphasizes the efficacy of these interventions in riverine environments that are characterized by varying environmental circumstances. The findings obtained from this study have important significance for the development and execution of focused public health interventions aimed at combating onchocerciasis in areas where environmental factors are crucial in the transmission dynamics of the illness. This study provides significant insights into the worldwide endeavor to combat neglected tropical diseases, highlighting the critical importance of environmental factors and implementing integrated control techniques for efficient disease management and prevention