Overview of human and animal brucellosis in Nigeria and its economic impacts on production

Brucellosis is a wide spread zoonotic bacterial disease of humans and animals. In humans the disease is recognized commonly as undulant fever, characterized by headache malaise, and arthritis. Brucellosis can occur in any age group, but mainly found in young men between the ages of 20 and 40 years because of occupational hazards. Domestic animals (cattle, sheep and goat, pigs, dogs etc) are highly susceptible to brucellosis. Generally, brucellosis manifest in female animals as abortion, retained placenta, stillbirth and death of young ones soon after birth. In males, the main features are vesiculitis, orchitis, and epididymitis, which may render infected male infertile for life. The endemicity of brucellosis has remained a threat in low- income countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia and has multiple economic implications across agriculture and public health sectors, and broader implications on economic and social development sectors. Google and Google Scholar were used to retrieve articles used for this review, which included published research articles and local, national and international reports on brucellosis. In this review, we summarised human and animal brucellosis, prevalence of infections in Nigeria, and economic impacts on production. It is believed that this review will guide researchers on the state of brucellosis in developing countries where the disease is still endemic, using Nigeria as a case study.

Genetic analysis and emergence of canine parvovirus type 2c in South Eastern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Genetic analysis of canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) variants circulating in South Eastern Nigeria was investigated. The original strain of CPV-2 emerged in 1978, mutated later to CPV-2a and has continued to be evolved. AIMS: To genetically characterize CPV-2 strains detected in dogs in South Eastern Nigeria and to phylogenetically group the viruses with existing sequencing data. METHODS: A total number of 82 rectal swabs were collected and stored in virus transport medium (VTM) from suspected cases of CPV-2 within the study area and were tested with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Seventy-nine samples (96.3%) were positive for CPV-2 and sequence analysis of partial VP2 gene of 20 amplicons revealed circulation of CPV-2a (n=4) and CPV-2c (n=16) in the region. The obtained strains clustered together. However, the group was further divided into two clear clusters comprising of 2a and 2c strains. The vaccine strain and the CPV-2 reference strains from USA formed a monophyletic cluster. CONCLUSION: Canine parvovirus types 2a and 2c are co-circulating in South Eastern region of Nigeria and therefore, there is an urgent need for an improved vaccine to cover for the emerging strain (CPV-2c) in Nigeria.