Tuberculin screening of some selected Fulani lactating cows in north-central Nigeria

The prevalence of mycobacterial infection among lactating Fulani cows was investigated in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Kaduna State of Nigeria. Tuberculin testing using single comparative intradermal tuberculin test showed a 14.6 % positive, 4 % doubtful, and 81.4 % negative reactors. Mycobacterial infection was found to be present in the nomadic (constantly moving) and seminomadic (limited movement) management systems studied but management showed no significant effect on the prevalence of the disease. However, the prevalence was significantly higher in older age groups than the younger ones (P < 0.05).Peer reviewedSubmitted Versio

Prodlait : un outil permettant d’ajuster l’alimentation des vaches pour atteindre un objectif de production fixe par l’eleveur

Avec l’essor des mini laiteries en Afrique de l’Ouest, de nombreux producteurs s’intéressent à la production laitière. Mais, les pratiques d’alimentation des vaches ne permettent pas d’atteindre leurs objectifs de production. Cet article présente l’outil Prodlait, conçu sur le tableur Excel, pour simuler l’effet des pratiques d’alimentation sur l’évolution du poids vif des vaches au cours de la lactation en fonction de l’objectif de production de lait de l’éleveur. Prodlait, utilise six courbes de lactation théoriques, représentant des objectifs de production croissants, calcule au quotidien sur 12 mois, les besoins des vaches, la couverture des besoins et l’évolution quotidienne du poids vif. Prodlait, propose deux indicateurs de poids vif des vaches : le poids vif à 90 jours après mise-bas comparé au poids vif de forme, pour apprécier la capacité des vaches à recevoir une saillie fécondante à cette période et le poids vif à 365 jours après mise-bas comparé au poids vif de mise-bas, pour apprécier la capacité de l’éleveur à reconstituer l’état corporel des vaches au bout d’une année. Deux cas d’utilisation montrent comment les indicateurs de Prodlait permettent aux producteurs de raisonner les apports alimentaires aux périodes cruciales de la gestion de la reproduction des vaches.Mots clés : Intervalle entre mise-bas, lactation, modèle de simulation, poids vif, pratique d’alimentation

Integration agriculture elevage dans les exploitations agropastorales au Nord de la Cote d’Ivoire

Dans la région de Korhogo au nord de la Côte d’Ivoire, les systèmes agropastoraux et l’intégration agriculture-élevage sont de plus en plus privilégiés par les paysans afin de faire face à la croissance démographique, à la cherté des intrants chimiques, aux problèmes fonciers, etc.). Cette étude vise à analyser la diversité des exploitations agropastorales (EAP) selon les zones agro-écologiques, avec un focus sur l‘intégration agriculture-élevage au sein de l’unité de production. La méthodologie s’appuie sur la méthode active de recherche participative (MARP), des interviews et des enquêtes approfondies sur un échantillon de 82 EAP dans deux villages. Le zonage agro-écologique a été actualisé à dire d’acteurs du fait de la croissance démographique, et la diversification des activités. Cinq types (structurels et fonctionnels) d’EAP ont été définis. Les grandes et très grandes EAP (1/4 des EAP) intensifient sur coton et maïs (quantité élevée de fumure organique (FO) sur le coton et quantité élevée de NPK sur le maïs) ; elles sont plus représentées en zone moins dense (Tiébila). Les moyennes EAP mixtes agriculture-élevage (20 % des EAP) et les petites et moyennes EAP d’agriculteurs (55 % des EAP), plus représentées en zone dense (Moroviné), combinent des fertilisants organiques et minéraux sur coton et céréales. Cette étude conclue sur la nécessité de prendre en compte la saturation croissante de l’espace, les changements de pratiques agropastorales et la diversité des EAP pour mieux cibler et rendre plus pertinentes et efficaces les actions d’accompagnement des EAP. Un accent particulier doit être mis sur la gestion de la fertilité des sols et l’amélioration de la productivité des EAP dans une optique de conservation des ressources naturelles.Mots clés: Analyse, diversité, système agropastoral, Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire, Intégration AgricultureélevageEnglish Title: Crop-livestock integration in the north of Ivory CostEnglish AbstractIn the area of Korhogo in the north of Ivory Coast, the agropastoral systems and the integration of crop and livestock are more and more privileged by the farmers to face population growth, high input cost, land problem, etc. This study aims at analyzing the diversity of agropastoral exploitations (EAP) according to agro-ecological zones, with an emphasis on the relations between crop and livestock. Methodology is based on the active participative research method (MARP), interviews and comprehensive investigations on a sample of 82 EAP in two villages. Agro-ecological zoning has been updated with the sayings of agropastoral actors according to population growth, and diversification of  activities. Five types (structural and functional) of EAP have been defined. Large and very large EAP (1/4 of the EAP) specialize on cotton and maize (more organic manure on the cotton and more mineral one on the maize); they are more represented in less dense zone (Tiébila). Average mixed crop and livestock EAP (20 % of the EAP) and the small and average of farmers (55 % of the EAP), more represented in dense zone (Moroviné), use on the same basis organic and mineral fertilizers on cotton and cereals. This study concluded on the need for taking into account the growing saturation of area and the diversity of EAP for better targeting the interventions of development, and making them more relevant and more effective, to reinforce the management of the fertility of the grounds and to ensure a greater productivity of the EAP, to accompany the EAP by taking into account their diversity for the conservation by the natural resources.Keywords: Analyze, diversity, agropastoral system, Korhogo, Ivory Coast, Crop-livestock Integratio

Bovine Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey on Cattle in the Rural Livestock System of Torodi (Niger)

BACKGROUND: Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is a widespread zoonosis in developing countries but has received little attention in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Niger. Recent investigations confirmed the high incidence of the disease in cattle slaughtered in an abattoir in Niamey. The fact that most of the animals in which M. bovis has been identified were from the rural area of Torodi implied the existence of a probable source of BTB in this region. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of BTB infection in cattle and to identify risk factors for infection in human and cattle populations in Torodi. METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A survey was carried out at the level of households keeping livestock (n = 51). The questionnaire was related to the potential risk factors and the presence of clinical signs of TB both in animals and humans. Comparative Intradermal Tuberculin Test was conducted to determine the TB status in cattle (n = 393). The overall apparent individual animal prevalence of tuberculin reactors was 3.6% (CI: 95%, 1.9-5.9), whereas the individual true prevalence was estimated at 0.8% (CI: 95%, 0.0-5.0). Using a multivariate logistic regression analysis and a classification tree analysis, the only household level risk factor that significantly influenced the presence of BTB in cattle was the presence of animals coughing in the herd (OR = 4.7, 95% CI: 1.12-19.71, p-value = 0.034). The lack of the practice of quarantine was borderline significant (OR = 4.2, 95% CI: 0.96-18.40, p-value = 0.056). CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The study confirmed that BTB is endemic in cattle in Torodi and the risk of the transmission of the disease to humans is potentially high. For the control of the disease in livestock, slaughtering of infected animals and the compensation of the owners is needed. Collaboration between the veterinary and the medical sectors, in the diagnosis, monitoring, prevention and control of BTB is strongly encouraged

Predictors of Bovine TB Risk Behaviour amongst Meat Handlers in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study Guided by the Health Belief Model

Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) is still a serious public health threat in developing countries. The aim of this study is to determine the social and cognitive factors predicting one of the risk behaviours amongst meat handlers in Nigeria, namely, eating Fuku Elegusi. This is the practice of eating the visibly infected parts of the lung in-order to convince customers to buy meat. The study is guided by the health belief model (HBM).This is a cross-sectional study of 349 randomly selected meat handlers in Oko-Oba Abattoir, in Lagos State. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analysis were employed to determine perceptions and prevalence of risk behaviours and to identify predictors of eating Fuku Elegusi.Just over a quarter (28.1%) of the study participants knew that eating Fuku Elegusi could be a source of bTB in humans. The prevalence of eating Fuku Elegusi was found to be 22%. Across all knowledge indicators related to bTB, those who don't eat Fuku Elegusi exhibited better knowledge. Strong predictors of eating Fuku Elegusi were: being male (OR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.10 to 5.19; p = 0.03), not knowing that eating Fuku Elegusi exposes to bTB (OR: 3.72, 95% CI: 1.69 to 8.22; p = 0.001), and the perception that one cannot sell meat without tasting it (perceived barrier) (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.60; p = 0.001). Lower risk of eating Fuku Elegusi was predicted by perceived susceptibility to bTB due to another risk behaviour, namely, not washing hands after handling meat (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.64 to 0.96; p-value = 0.021). Television and radio were the most acceptable media for TB prevention messages (78.5% and 75.6% respectively).Meat handlers in developing countries bear high risk to bTB owing to prevailing social and cognition determinants. Findings were largely consistent with the propositions of HBM

Effects of alirocumab on types of myocardial infarction: insights from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial

Aims  The third Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (MI) Task Force classified MIs into five types: Type 1, spontaneous; Type 2, related to oxygen supply/demand imbalance; Type 3, fatal without ascertainment of cardiac biomarkers; Type 4, related to percutaneous coronary intervention; and Type 5, related to coronary artery bypass surgery. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction with statins and proprotein convertase subtilisin–kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors reduces risk of MI, but less is known about effects on types of MI. ODYSSEY OUTCOMES compared the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab with placebo in 18 924 patients with recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and elevated LDL-C (≥1.8 mmol/L) despite intensive statin therapy. In a pre-specified analysis, we assessed the effects of alirocumab on types of MI. Methods and results  Median follow-up was 2.8 years. Myocardial infarction types were prospectively adjudicated and classified. Of 1860 total MIs, 1223 (65.8%) were adjudicated as Type 1, 386 (20.8%) as Type 2, and 244 (13.1%) as Type 4. Few events were Type 3 (n = 2) or Type 5 (n = 5). Alirocumab reduced first MIs [hazard ratio (HR) 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–0.95; P = 0.003], with reductions in both Type 1 (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77–0.99; P = 0.032) and Type 2 (0.77, 0.61–0.97; P = 0.025), but not Type 4 MI. Conclusion  After ACS, alirocumab added to intensive statin therapy favourably impacted on Type 1 and 2 MIs. The data indicate for the first time that a lipid-lowering therapy can attenuate the risk of Type 2 MI. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction below levels achievable with statins is an effective preventive strategy for both MI types.For complete list of authors see http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehz299</p

Effect of alirocumab on mortality after acute coronary syndromes. An analysis of the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES randomized clinical trial

Background: Previous trials of PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9) inhibitors demonstrated reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events, but not death. We assessed the effects of alirocumab on death after index acute coronary syndrome. Methods: ODYSSEY OUTCOMES (Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab) was a double-blind, randomized comparison of alirocumab or placebo in 18 924 patients who had an ACS 1 to 12 months previously and elevated atherogenic lipoproteins despite intensive statin therapy. Alirocumab dose was blindly titrated to target achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) between 25 and 50 mg/dL. We examined the effects of treatment on all-cause death and its components, cardiovascular and noncardiovascular death, with log-rank testing. Joint semiparametric models tested associations between nonfatal cardiovascular events and cardiovascular or noncardiovascular death. Results: Median follow-up was 2.8 years. Death occurred in 334 (3.5%) and 392 (4.1%) patients, respectively, in the alirocumab and placebo groups (hazard ratio [HR], 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.98; P=0.03, nominal P value). This resulted from nonsignificantly fewer cardiovascular (240 [2.5%] vs 271 [2.9%]; HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.74 to 1.05; P=0.15) and noncardiovascular (94 [1.0%] vs 121 [1.3%]; HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.01; P=0.06) deaths with alirocumab. In a prespecified analysis of 8242 patients eligible for ≥3 years follow-up, alirocumab reduced death (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.94; P=0.01). Patients with nonfatal cardiovascular events were at increased risk for cardiovascular and noncardiovascular deaths (P<0.0001 for the associations). Alirocumab reduced total nonfatal cardiovascular events (P<0.001) and thereby may have attenuated the number of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular deaths. A post hoc analysis found that, compared to patients with lower LDL-C, patients with baseline LDL-C ≥100 mg/dL (2.59 mmol/L) had a greater absolute risk of death and a larger mortality benefit from alirocumab (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.90; Pinteraction=0.007). In the alirocumab group, all-cause death declined wit h achieved LDL-C at 4 months of treatment, to a level of approximately 30 mg/dL (adjusted P=0.017 for linear trend). Conclusions: Alirocumab added to intensive statin therapy has the potential to reduce death after acute coronary syndrome, particularly if treatment is maintained for ≥3 years, if baseline LDL-C is ≥100 mg/dL, or if achieved LDL-C is low. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01663402

Dairy production in Western Burkina Faso in a context of emergence of dairies: Diversity of breeding practices and proposals for improvement

In Western Burkina Faso, dairies are facing a local milk supply problem because production is low, seasonal, fragmented and expensive to collect. This study aimed to identify levers to increase production and reduce seasonality. It was carried out at 18 multicultivator-breeder farms of the Hauts-Bassins region involved in milk production. A multivariate analysis based on variables of farm structure, operation and performance identified five types of polyculture-livestock farms involved in this production: Low-input, pasture-oriented suckling cows with a large number of cows (T1), with a medium number of cows (T2); agropastoral-oriented suckling cows (T3); commercially-oriented, specialized dairy farms with little use of green fodder (T4), or with high use of green fodder (T5). T1 and T2 were characterized by grazing almost exclusively in all seasons and milk production levels of less than two liters per cow per day at lactation peak. Milk from these farms was poorly marketed and seldom sold to dairies. T3 made greater use of dry fodder and feed, allowing to improve milk production, which was frequently marketed in dairies (about 2 L/cow/d at lactation peak). T4 and T5 were characterized by the use of improved breeds, and the extensive use of forage and feed purchased year-round, ensuring higher milk yields (5–13 L/cow/d at lactation peak). These farms sold all of their milk to dairies. Our results highlight the fact that production was severely penalized by a diet that was too poor in quality feed and fodder, and that the seasonality of calving worsened the drop in production at the end of the dry season