Seasonal variation of mycotoxin levels in poultry feeds and feed ingredients in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Mycotoxins pose a major problem to poultry production as a result of feed contamination which has deleterious consequences such as production losses and human health risks. A total of 158 chicken feed samples were randomly collected from 46 consenting poultry farms in Oyo State throughout the wet season (April-October; 91 samples) and the dry season (November-March; 67 samples), including compounded feed (n = 129) and feed ingredients (n = 29). Samples were promptly transported to the laboratory in sterile plastic vials for lateral flow assay for mycotoxins using six different commercial mycotoxin test kits each for aflatoxin B1, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A, fumonisin, and T-2 toxin/HT-2 toxin. Summary values of mycotoxin levels (µg/kg) in the feedstuffs were represented as frequency or median (and range). Fisher exact or Mann-Whitney U tests were carried out where appropriate at α = 0.05. Every sample contained at least four mycotoxins. Aflatoxins and fumonisin co-occurred in 80% of the samples. Aflatoxin and fumonisin concentrations were above the permissible limits in 32.9% and 18.4% respectively in feedstuff sampled in the dry season while the values were 17.1% and 6.3% respectively during the wet season. Among feed ingredients, peanut cake and maize had the highest median concentration of aflatoxin and fumonisin, respectively. Median aflatoxin concentration in the feedstuff was significantly higher than the permissible limit irrespective of season. There is a need to frequently monitor mycotoxin levels of feed and feed ingredients and improve storage system for feed ingredients in order to reduce the risk associated with high mycotoxin intake in poultry.

Serological Detection of Flavivirus Infections in Saudi Baboons.

To evaluate the risk to public health from Flaviviruses in the southwest region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we screened as sentinels, 50 commensal hamadryas baboons located at a peri-domestic site on the outskirts of Ta'if City in February 2013. Of the baboons, 12% [95% CI 5, 24], 0% [95% CI 0, 7] and 10% [95% CI 3, 22] were seropositive in a pan-Flavivirus ELISA (anti-pan-WNV 1-2, Usutu, Zika), Dengue virus 1-4 ELISA (anti-DENV 1-4) and WNV-1 PRNT, respectively, indicating Flavirus exposures of the subjects with possible risk to public health in the area.

Detection of Antibody and Antigen for Lassa Virus Nucleoprotein in Monkeys from Southern Nigeria.

Lassa fever is a deadly viral haemorrhagic fever caused by Lassa Virus (LASV). Rodents, especially, Mystomys natalensis, are the known reservoirs of LASV and humans are the defined hosts. Monkeys share many illnesses with humans and experimental LASV infections in monkeys are fatal but natural LASV infection of monkeys has not been reported. Serum samples obtained between August 2015 and December 2017 from 62 monkeys belonging to six species in Southern Nigeria were tested for LASV as part of an ongoing surveillance of monkeys in the region for zoonotic pathogens. Commercially available Recombinant LASV (ReLASV) Pan-Lassa enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test kits (Zalgen Labs, Germantown, MD, USA) were used to detect antibodies (IgG and IgM) and antigen specific for LASV nucleoprotein in the sera. Lassa-fever-specific IgG and IgM, and antigen specific for LASV nucleoprotein were detected in 5/62, 0/62, and 1/62 samples, respectively. The presence of LASV-specific antibodies in the sera suggests natural exposure to the virus, while the presence of LASV antigen may mean that monkeys are carriers of the virus. There is a need to broaden Lassa fever surveillance to include nonhuman primates (NHPs) for their probable role in the epidemiology of the disease.HIGHLIGHTS.• Rodents are the natural reservoirs of Lassa fever virus (LASV) and humans are the defined hosts.• Experimental LASV infections in non-human primates (NHP) are fatal but natural infection of NHP with the virus have not been reported.• We detected antigen and antibody specific for LASV in free-living Monkeys from southern Nigeria which implies that monkeys in the region are naturally exposed to LASV and are probable carriers of the virus.

Perception and incidence of Buruli ulcer in Ogun State, South West Nigeria: intensive epidemiological survey and public health intervention recommended.

INTRODUCTION: Buruli ulcer (BU) is a highly ranked neglected tropical disease (NTD) of global health importance with increasing incidence in sub-Saharan Africa yet there is paucity of information on the epidemiology of BU in Nigeria. Incidentally, highly BU endemic Benin Republic shares proximity with Nigeria. This study was carried out to establish presence of BU and ascertain the level of BU perception among rural populace in Ogun State, south-west Nigeria. METHODS: Secondary data (2009-2012) on incidence of BU was collected from a reference hospital. A cross-sectional survey using structured questionnaire administered to rural people and healthcare practitioners was conducted in three purposively chosen Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Ogun State based on unpublished reports of BU presence. RESULTS: Data collected revealed 27 hospital confirmed BU cases between 2009-2012 across four LGAs (Obafemi Owode, Abeokuta North, Yewa North and Yewa South) while 14%(21/150) chronic ulcers (suspected to be BU) were discovered during the cross-sectional survey carried out in Odeda, Yewa South and North LGAs. Healthcare practitioners 63.6% (42/66) and 54.7% (82/150) rural people demonstrated poor level of BU perception respectively. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that BU exists in Ogun State and evaluates the poor perception that the affected rural populace has on the disease. This pilot study presents baseline information on BU in a rural setting in Ogun State South-west Nigeria hence the vital need for prompt public health involvement and further research on the epidemiology of BU.