Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Pastoralists Towards Tick Bites, and Tick Control in Plateau State, Nigeria.

PURPOSE: Pastoralists regularly come in contact with ticks as they herd their animals and are exposed to pathogens that cause zoonotic diseases. No study has been conducted in Nigeria to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of these Pastoralists towards ticks, tick bite, and tick control, and thus this research. METHODS: A KAP survey of pastoralists (n = 119) was conducted in Plateau State, Nigeria. Data generated were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). RESULTS: The majority of the pastoralists (99.2%) had knowledge of ticks, with 79% of them being aware that ticks attach and bite humans, whereas only 30.3% believed that ticks transmit diseases to humans. Eighty-four per cent of the pastoralists do not wear protective clothing while herding their animals and 81.5% indicated to having been bitten by ticks, whereas hospital visit after tick bite was low (7.6%). Statistically significant variables were observed when knowledge of the respondents were compared in relation to the ability of ticks to cause diseases (Χ2 = 9.980, P = 0.007); hospital visit after a bite (Χ2 = 11.453, P = 0.003); and the use of protective clothing for herding (Χ2 = 22.596, P = 0). The main tick control measure was hand picking (58.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The pastoralists were unaware of the ability of ticks to transmit zoonotic pathogens. Preventive practices were insufficient to reduce tick bites, and thus were constantly exposed to tick-borne diseases. This study hopes to provide important insights for the development of educational awareness programmes for the pastoralists and serve as a guide for the health workers in designing future preventive programmes against tick-borne zoonoses in Nigeria.

Perceptions and practices of farmers of indigenous poultry towards Salmonella infections in North-Central Nigeria.

Background: Salmonella infections continue to be of global concern to poultry health, productivity, and public health. About 44% of the poultry in Nigeria are indigenous and kept in close interaction with farmers who are mostly rural dwellers and have limited access to veterinary and extension services. Aim: The perceptions and practices of farmers of indigenous poultry toward Salmonella infections were assessed to obtain and document baseline data that can be used to create awareness among farmers about these infections and their attendant public health implications. Methods: A cross-sectional approach using a multistage sampling method was used in this survey. A total of 419 farmers keeping indigenous poultry were interviewed using a pre-tested electronic questionnaire in three randomly selected states within North-Central Nigeria. Data were analyzed using descriptive and regression analysis. Results: Out of the 419 respondents, 138 (32.9%), 141 (33.7%), and 140 (33.4%) were from Benue, Kwara, and Plateau States, respectively. Of the 419, 55.4% were females, 40.8% were above 40 years, and 35.8% have over 10 years of farming experience. The majority of the poultry are not housed (58.5%) and farmers predominantly rear chickens (51.8%). Also, 49.9% of the birds were 1-6 months with 41.5% of the flock sizes being 11-20. Respondents had a poor level of perception toward Salmonella infection as the majority did not know that Salmonella affects poultry (89.3%) and that Salmonella infections are zoonotic (94.5%). Significant (p = 0.000) associations existed between categorized perception score and age, educational status, family size, and farming experience of farmers. There were significant (p = 0.000) associations of categorized practice scores with gender, age, education status, family size, and farming experience of farmers. Conclusion: This study has revealed the poor perception of farmers on Salmonella infections and has highlighted their practices. There is a need to raise awareness about these infections to improve indigenous poultry health and productivity as well as public health.

Coinfections of African swine fever virus, porcine circovirus 2 and 3, and porcine parvovirus 1 in swine in Nigeria.

As pig production increases in Africa, it is essential to identify the pathogens that are circulating in the swine population to assess pig welfare and implement targeted control measures. For this reason, DNA samples collected from pigs in Nigeria in the context of African swine fever monitoring were further screened by PCR for porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2), porcine circovirus 3 (PCV-3), and porcine parvovirus 1 (PPV1). Forty-seven (45%) pigs were positive for two or more pathogens. Sequence analysis identified PCV-2 genotypes a, b, and d, while limited genetic heterogenicity was observed among PCV-3 strains. All except one of the PPV1 sequences were genetically distinct from those previously identified in other countries.

Absence of DNA and anti-leishmanial antibodies in dogs (Canis familiaris) in Plateau state, Nigeria.

Dogs are important sentinels for the surveillance of some zoonotic diseases including human leishmaniasis. To obtain information on the role of dogs in the epidemiology of leishmaniasis in Nigeria, 98 sera and 204 DNA samples obtained from dogs were screened for anti-leishmania antibodies and DNA of Leishmania spp. using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and PCR, respectively. Initially, three out of the 98 sera samples had ELISA borderline optical density (OD) values and were retested. Two out of the three samples turned out to be negative while one sample gave yet a borderline OD value on a retest. A real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting the 120-bp fragment of the minicircle kDNA of Leishmania spp. run on DNA extracted from EDTA preserved blood of the borderline positive serum failed to amplify the 120-bp sequence of Leishmania spp. In the second phase of the study, 204 DNA from dog blood samples were subjected to conventional PCR targeting the 300-350 bp of the internal transcribe spacer region 1 (ITS1) of Leishmania spp. None of the samples could be amplified (n = 204, 0%). Our study suggests that L. infantum is not prevalence in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria and this should be confirmed using a larger sample of local dogs tested using PCR methods in lymphoid tissue samples.

Live pig markets are hotspots for spread of African swine fever virus in Nigeria.

Livestock trading through live animal markets are potential pathways for the introduction and spread of economically important pathogens like the African swine fever virus (ASFV) to new areas in several countries. Due to the high demand for live pigs in Nigeria both for restocking and slaughter, live pigs are sold at designated live pig markets (LPM) in the country. This involves movement of pigs over long distances. Despite, reports of ASF outbreaks following restocking of pigs bought from LPMs, there is paucity of information on the role of LPMs in the epidemiology of ASF. In this study, data and pig samples (whole blood, sera, tissue) were collected from 4 selected LPMs in Nigeria (Dawaki, Katsit, Numan and Pandam) between 2019 and 2020. Samples were analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Four genes of ASFV positive samples were characterized to identify the circulating genotypes. Results revealed trade activities involving transportation of pigs from these selected markets to 42 major cities and towns in thirteen (13) States of Nigeria. PCR results revealed an overall ASF prevalence of 10.77% (66/613). ASFV was confirmed by PCR in all the selected LPMs with a prevalence rate of 3.13%-23.81%. The phylogeny revealed genotype I and serogroup 4 based on the p72 protein that encodes the B646L gene and the EP402R gene encoding the CD2V. While sequence analysis of CVR of B602L gene revealed 8 tetrameric repeats variants, six of which have never been reported in Nigeria. Analysis of sera samples recorded a seroprevalence of 6.9% (16/217) within the study period. Findings from this study show that LPM are hotspots and channels for transmission and continuous spread of ASFV in Nigeria. Therefore, for ASF to be controlled in Nigeria, disease surveillance and regulation at LPMs are critical.

Overview of Taenia solium cysticercosis in West Africa.

Human and porcine cysticercosis is endemic in West Africa, where epilepsy is relatively common, but rarely reported due to fear of stigmatization. Neurocysticercosis, caused by Taenia solium, tends to affect the poor in developing countries and control is hampered by inadequate infrastructure and financial resources coupled with lack of adequate information about its significance and distribution. The risk factors for human cysticercosis are closely associated with the characteristics of smallholder or backyard pig farming systems prevalent in this region. Poverty, ignorance and lack of political will militate against successful eradication, while tools for effective diagnosis, prevention and treatment, including vaccines for pigs, are not yet available in many countries. Cysticercosis was targeted for control by The World Health Organization global plan for 2008-2015; however, measures for control are yet to be undertaken in a coordinated manner in West Africa. Diagnostic tools, including neuroimaging facilities, should be strategically situated and made accessible to rural populations in West Africa. Community education in combination with a multipronged approach consisting of vaccination of pigs using TSOL18 vaccine and treatment with oxfendazole along with mass chemotherapy of humans with praziquantel could eliminate taeniasis and should be considered. In-depth and extensive epidemiological studies are required in West Africa in order to fully elucidate the prevalence of T. solium and to support more coordinated and effective control of human and porcine cysticercosis.

Seroprevalence of Antibodies (IgG) to Taenia Solium among Pig Rearers and Associated Risk Factors in Jos metropolis; Nigeria

Introduction: In Nigeria; Taenia solium cysticercosis is a problem in rural areas where most pigs are kept and in urban areas where infected pork can be consumed. Methodology: We performed enzyme linked immunosorbent assays on serum samples collected from pig rearers in Jos; Nigeria; to determine the prevalence of IgG antibodies. Results: Of 125 subjects tested; 12 (9.6) were positive for T. solium. Seroprevalence did not differ significantly (P0.05) according to education; age; occupation; study location; gender or whether the subjects consumed pork. However; a statistical difference (P0.05) in seroprevalence was observed according to type and availability of toilet used; personal hygiene after using the toilet; and type of pig management practiced. Females were about two times more likely to be seroprevalent than males (OR