Potentially toxic metals in dust, blood, and hairs from exposed security dogs in an oil and gas industry.

Environmental pollutants pose a health risk to animals and humans. We evaluated levels of some potentially toxic metals in environmental dust, blood, and hair samples of apparently healthy security dogs from a crude oil well drilling site (A) and liquefied natural gas production site (B) industrial environments in Nigeria. These samples were routinely digested and analyzed for lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, and zinc using atomic absorption spectrophotometry assay. Mann­Whitney U test was used to compare concentrations of the metals in different samples. Dust samples contained a high amount of the metals considered. There was no significant difference between levels of heavy metals in blood and hair samples from dogs guarding both sites, except for blood (p = 0.034) and hair (p = 0.015) chromium which were higher in those securing site A compared with site B. Higher nickel (p = 0.001) and zinc (p = 0.001) with lower chromium (p = 0.004) levels occurred in the hair samples than in the blood. Lead was not detected in blood and hair samples suggesting safety. There was no correlation between the same metal in blood and hair. Hair chromium and nickel levels were above the reference suggesting toxic exposure. There is a need for regular monitoring and decontamination of air pollutants within similar facilities for environmental safety.

Genetic diversity of canine parvovirus variants circulating in Nigeria.

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a fast-evolving single-stranded DNA virus that causes severe and fatal gastrointestinal disease in dogs. Lately, several mutations affecting viral protein (VP) capsid resulting in highly pathogenic variants with distinctive immunological and clinicopathological characteristics abound. This study involved screening stools of 44 randomly selected clinical cases of canine gastroenteritis from 4 cities (Ibadan, Jos, Makurdi, and Zaria) in Nigeria for CPV antigen using an on-the-spot immunoassay test kit, as well as, molecular detection of viral nucleic acid by polymerase chain reaction. Subsequently, nucleic acid sequencing of 1195-bp amplicons encompassing the VP2 encoding region was done. The resultant 40 high-quality amino acid sequences obtained were analysed for the identification and grouping of the viruses into their discrete variants - CPV-2a, CPV-2b, or CPV-2c, using key amino acids substitutions - Asn, Asp, or Glu respectively at position 426 of the VP2 gene. One-third (11/40; 27.5%) of the analysed sequences were identified as CPV-2a and two-third (29/40; 72.5%) as CPV-2c. The original CPV and CPV-2b were not detected. Also, the "new CPV-2a variant" with mutation S297A identified had two additional mutations (Y324I and T440A) associated with selective pressure and vaccination failure in their sequences. Similarly, unique CPV-2c mutants carrying genetic markers (S297A, Y324I, and Q370R) that are highly related to CPVs of Asian origin were observed. These findings revealed a high level of divergence of existing CPVs in circulation; suggesting that CPV is rapidly evolving in Nigeria lately.

Current status and risk factors of canine parvovirus type 2 in North Central Nigeria.

Since its emergence in Nigeria, canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) infection has posed problems to dog breeding and requires constant awareness and monitoring. In this study, the status, the assessment of extrinsic risk factors of parvoviral infection in dog kennels in North Central Nigeria, and isolation of the CPV-2 were carried out. Potential risk factors were considered during sampling: age, breed, sex, location, vaccination and health status, using well-structured questionnaires on dog owners with experience of CPV-2 infection. There was high prevalence which depended on age, breed, location, clinical status of the dog while vaccination status of the dogs did not influence the prevalence. CPV-2 vaccination compliance by the breeders and management system of the kennels were also observed as risk factors. Isolation of CPV-2a and -2c strains from Nigeria for further study has been reported. The spread of CPV-2 in Nigeria is increasing, hence needs for continual epidemiological monitoring and review.