Bovine fetal wastages in Southeast Nigeria: prevalence, causes and public health implications.

Slaughter of pregnant animals for meat is unethical, counterproductive and enhances zoonotic disease spread. This study determined the prevalence and reasons for slaughtering pregnant cows (SPCs) for meat. Pregnancy status of cows slaughtered was determined by evisceration and longitudinal incision of the uterus for presence of fetus. Closed-ended questionnaire was used to elicit information on causes of SPCs and disposal of eviscerated fetuses. Of the 851 cows slaughtered, 17.4% (148/851) were pregnant. Of the 148 pregnant cows, 87 (58.8) were slaughtered during dry season while 43.2% (64/148) of the recovered fetuses were in their third trimester. Reasons adduced for SPCs by the participants in the questionnaire were: ignorance of the animals' pregnancy status, 69.7% (n=119), high demand for beef, 61.3% (n=148), buyers preference for large-sized animals, 47.9 (n=148), economic hardship, 52.1% (n=148) and disease conditions, 42.9% (n=148). Fetuses or uterine contents were sold for human consumption, 17.6% (n=119), preparation of dog food, 27.7 (n=119) or disposed by open refuse dump method, 54.6% (n=119). The 17.4% SPCs prevalence is unacceptably high. This warrants ante-mortem pregnancy diagnosis in the slaughterhouses and strict implementation of the Animal Welfare Act (Meat Edict of 1968) to conserve livestock production and limit animal cruelty and spread of zoonoses.

Antimicrobial drug usage pattern in poultry farms in Nigeria: implications for food safety, public health and poultry disease management.

Good antimicrobial drug stewardship in food­producing animals boosts productivity and limits transmission of zoonotic pathogens, but the imprudent usage is counterproductive. A nation­wide survey to determine the pattern of antimicrobial drug usage in poultry was therefore conducted across 12 of the 36 States in Nigeria. The survey was conducted using structured questionnaire designed to elicit information on socio­demographics, pattern of antimicrobial drug usage and awareness of the consequences of imprudent use of antimicrobials in food­producing animals, among 2,402 randomly selected poultry farmers. Critically important antimicrobials, belonging to the WHO's lists of 'Highest' and 'High' priority antibiotics, were administered sub­therapeutically for prophylaxis and growth enhancement purposes. Many diseases that warranted the antimicrobial administration were of viral etiology. Only 64.2% of the farmers administered the drug based on veterinary doctors' prescription. Majority (62.3%) of the farmers did not observe recommended withdrawal period after the drug administration. Awareness of the respondents on consequences of non­prudent agricultural use of antimicrobials was generally poor. There is need for enlightenment of the farmers on the benefits of prudent agricultural use of antimicrobials. Immediate discontinuation of sale of essential antimicrobials as over­the­counter drugs is imperative to safeguard their therapeutic efficacy and curtail spread of antimicrobial­resistance organisms.

Epidemiology of infections with zoonotic pig parasites in Enugu State, Nigeria.

Pig production is an important component of animal agriculture in Nigeria but zoonotic parasites constrain the production and make pork unsafe for human consumption. This epidemiological study was therefore conducted, to ascertain the prevalence and determinants of Taenia solium cysticerci and Ascaris spp infections in pigs in Enugu State. Presence of cysticerci was determined by post-mortem examination of pig carcasses while pig faeces were coprologically examined for presence of Ascaris spp egg, according to standard parasitological protocol. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on pig farmers' involvement in practices predisposing to parasitic infections and deworming progammes in 107 piggeries surveyed. Cysticerci were detected in 3.51% (12/342) of pig carcasses inspected. Overall prevalence of Ascaris spp. infections were 38.3% (41/107) and 14.3% (63/441) at farm and individual pig levels respectively. Major determinants of the infection and the percentage of farmers involved were: eating on duty (66.4%), open defecation (35.5%) and semi-extensive husbandry system (62.3%). Others are non-availability of deworming programme (54.4%), rearing pigs of different ages together (41.9%), non-disinfection of feeding or water troughs (41.2%) and early weaning (54.3%). Cognizant of the zoonotic potentials of Ascaris spp and Taenia solium cysticerci, the prevalence found for the parasites are significant from public health and food safety points of view. This underscores the need for cost-effect control measures against the parasites, using a coordinated One Health approach; in order to boost pig production, limit spread of the zoonoses and hence, the public health consequences thereof.