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

Geo-spatial distribution of Brucella melitensis infection in selected local government areas of Katsina and Sokoto States, Nigeria

Brucellosis due to Brucella melitensis infects mostly small ruminants and has been reported to be the most invasive and pathogenic species for humans. A cross-sectional sero-geospatial study was conducted in 4 and 3 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Katsina and Sokoto States, Nigeria respectively. Sera were analysed using c-ELISA while A Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver was used to take geographic coordinates of all sampling points. Data were analysed with SPSS version 20. Chi-square test was used to measure associations among categorical variables. ArcGIS 10.3 was used to map the geospatial pattern of distribution of B. melitensis. Three-dimensional analysis was also performed using the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation to determine the distribution pattern of B. melitensis in unsampled LGAs. Six (10.52%), 11 (20.0%), 11(2.0%) and 23 (23.0%) sera were positive from Bakori (n=57), Baure (n=56), Daura (n=55) and Funtua (n=101) LGAs of Katsina State respectively while 4 (12.5%), 1 (5.6%), 13 (14.8%) were positive from Illela (n=22), Tambuwal (n=19) and Yabo (n=90) LGAs respectively in Sokoto State were positive for B. melitensis antibodies. All the variables tested were not statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). The geospatial maps for both States were produced to show the prevalence of B. melitensis using c-ELISA throughout the LGAs sampled and extrapolation was done for other unsampled LGAs. Small ruminants in the study areas harboured antibodies to B. melitensis. The maps may serve as an excellent tool for active surveillance and control strategies for livestock diseases like brucellosis in the study area.Keywords: Brucella melitensis, Small Ruminants, Nigeria, c-ELISA, GI

Assessment of Farm management risk factors of contracting haemoparasitic infections in Pastoralist and Sedentary cattle in Soba Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria

The major cattle management system observed in Soba Local Government Area was pastoral husbandry system. Under this system, cattle were extensively grazed on established forages of Kaduna State forests and were exposed to various arthropod vectors of haemoparasites. These haemoparasites are a serious threat to food security in Soba LGA due to their influence on cattle productivity. Questionnaires were used in assessing some farm management risk factors of contracting haemoparasitic infections in both pastoralist and sedentary herds in Soba LGA. A total of 24 herdsmen made up of 20 pastoralists and 4 sedentary herdsmen were interviewed. The study revealed, that some herd management practices were observed to have constituted risks to acquiring haemoparasitic infections in both pastoralist and sedentary herds in the study area. For instance, vectors of haemoparasites such as ticks and biting flies aside Glossina were present in both pastoralist and sedentary herds in the study area. Some farm management practices such as screening of herds for haemoparasites, treatment of it once in 12 months and quarantining of new stock before adding to the existing herds were found not to be carried. Thus, constituted risk factors in the herds. This preliminary study, provided evidence of the possible arthropod vectors (ticks and biting flies) that may be involved in the transmission of haemoparasites to cattle in Soba LGA of Kaduna State. It is envisaged that this survey will stimulate more studies to determine the prevalence of haemoparasites in cattle in Soba LGA of Kaduna State

Efficacy trial of three pour-on acaricides on external parasites of cattle in Zaria, Nigeria

External parasites cause adverse effects on livestock production globally. In a study to determine the efficacy of three acaricides, fifteen pastoralist herds were randomly selected. Each herd had a group with eight cattle and three other groups with four. All animals were screened for external parasites pre-acaricide application. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were assigned to 1% Fipronil (Topline®), 0.5% Ivermectin and 5% Cypermethrin, respectively. Group 4 animals were untreated control. Observation of earmarked animals was twice weekly for seven weeks. Results showed that Musca domestica and Stomoxys sp died instantly and were repelled from herds for four weeks. No new tick attachment on experimental animals four weeks post application. Ticks were absent in Group 1 six weeks post application. Lice died 3 days post application in all experimental groups, while the animal with demodecocis in Group 1 had regression of lesions week 2 post application. Hair re-growth was observed in affected animals by week 4. Only a meager regression of demodecocislessions was observed in animals in other groups. The study demonstrated that the three acaricides had both therapeutic and prophylactic effects on external parasites, but Fipronil (Topline®) had longer prophylactic and better curative effects than the other two acaricides. It is, therefore, recommended that Fipronil (Topline®) should be reliably used for the control of external parasite in cattle because of its broader spectrum of activity and longer lasting effect.Keywords: Efficacy; Topline®; external parasites, Nigeri

Comparative study on the sensitivity of bacteriology and immunohistochemical technique in the diagnosis of natural salmonellosis in chickens

Bacteriological and immunohistochemical diagnoses of natural salmonellosis in chickens were carried out on 36 cases, in order to compare the sensitivities of the two techniques. Samples of the lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, proventriculus, intestine and caecum were collected at postmortem for bacterial isolation and separately fixed in 10% formalin for immunohistochemistry. The frequencies of Salmonella isolation by bacteriology and antigen detection by immunohistochemical technique were determined from the tissue samples and overall percentages between the two were compared. Out of 36 cases of natural salmonellosis, 53 Salmonella isolates were obtained from different organs in 31 (86.1%) cases; 48 isolates from 28 (77.8%) cases tested biochemically positive; PCR confirmed 41 isolates from 25 (89.3%) cases. Immunohistochemical test was positive in all the 36 (100%) cases. In the present study, immunohistochemical technique was more sensitive than isolation and identification and can be used as an adjunct to bacteriology in the diagnosis of avian salmonellosis.Keywords: Salmonellosis, Diagnosis, Bacteriology, Immunohistochemistry, Postmortem, Chicke

Survey of bovine tuberculosis in Nigerian beef cattle

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a zoonotic disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) that primarily affects cattle, but also other domestic and wild mammals. In Nigeria, abattoir monitoring of gross bTB lesions is the only control method being applied in all animals. This study aims to investigate tubercle bacilli infection in slaughtered cattle found with visible tuberculosis-like lesions. Lesions suggesting bTB were detected in 226 cattle during abattoir monitoring in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Tissue samples collected from the affected carcasses were subjected to Ziehl-Neelsen stain (ZN). Of the 226 carcasses with lesions, 37 (16.4%) were positive by the Ziehl-Neelsen stain (ZN), and MTBC was detected from 34 (91.9%) of the 37 ZN-positive samples. Molecular typing by region of difference (RD) deletion analysis revealed the genotype of Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium caprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Infection was most significantly associated with age of the animals (OR = 3.49; CI: 1.29-9.47 [p = 0.002]). The findings indicate a serious threat for health as well as for TB control in Nigeria