African swine fever in the northern regions of Cameroon: seroprevalence survey and spatiotemporal analysis of outbreaks from 2010 to 2017.

The present study was carried out to establish the spatiotemporal distribution of ASF between 2010 and 2017 in the Adamawa, North, and Far North regions of Cameroon. A retrospective study with data relating to the northern regions from epidemiological reports from target organizations in Cameroon was used to analyze outbreaks of ASF from 2010 to 2016. A prospective study consisting of risk factor analysis and serological investigation of anti-ASF antibodies and ASF RT-PCR antigen detection test in pig farms in the study regions with clinical suspicion of ASF was carried out in 2017. During the period 2010 to 2016, a total of 53 ASF outbreaks were reported and confirmed in the three northern regions of Cameroon and involved 4905 pigs (2232 deaths and 2673 slaughtered for sanitary measures). The seroprevalence for the 2017 serology survey was 5.23% (95% CI [3.57-6.89]) at the individual and 10.81% (95% CI [6.34-15.28]) at herd level. Region, management of farms system, on-farm slaughter by the owner (OR = 4.60; 95% CI [0.34-46.20]; p = 0.014), and selling of animals to community or to butchers (OR = 4.82; 95% CI [0.51-62.15]; p = 0.010) had significant effect on individual level seropositivity of ASF. The viral antigen was not detected by PCR. This study showed that ASF cases have decreased significantly in the northern regions of Cameroon following the epizootic 2010 outbreaks. The findings predict a better future for the pork farming in the regions through the enforcement of strategic measures.

Dog demographics and husbandry practices related with rabies in Cameroon.

Dog demographics are considered as one of the main factors in the control of rabies. Having reliable data on dog population and husbandry practices on how they are managed is a key point in the elaboration of any control program to fight against human deaths due to rabies which are mainly due to dogs. However, the lack of data regarding dog population is one of the main hindrances to elaborate effective fighting projects in developing countries, particularly in Africa. In order to contribute for reliable data on dog demographics and husbandry practices related to rabies, this study was carried out in the cities of Ngaoundéré, Garoua and Yaoundé, respectively located in Adamaoua, North and Centre regions of Cameroon from October 2013 to April 2014. A survey was conducted within 2500 households selected randomly to which 45 questions were addressed, while the vaccine status of dogs was checked in the houses by verifying the vaccination booklet and in public and private veterinary clinics. Various aspects of dogs such as dog population, husbandry practices, ownership and age distribution were assessed. Out of these households, 45% of them (1118) had exploitable data. From these, 46% of them owned at least 1 dog for a total of 707 dogs, with a dog per household ratio of 6.3:10 for a dog per human ratio of 1.16:10. The age distribution of these dogs showed that the mean age of male and female was around 2 years with a male per female ratio of 29:10. The estimation of roaming dogs gave a ratio of 2.3:10 per human. Concerning the reasons for having a dog, the main motivation was guarding (76%) and company (17%). Husbandry practices applied to these dogs were a complete restrained (52%), semi-restrained (29%) and a complete roaming (18%). In relation to rabies, only 34% of dog owners were able to prove the effective vaccination of their dogs and no reason was given to explain the non-vaccination by the majority (78%) of the owners. So this study provides for the first time a baseline on dog population for an objective fighting program but also shows that the husbandry practices applied by the owners can be a hindrance to a fighting program against rabies.

Veterinary pharmacovigilance in sub-Sahara Africa context: a pilot study of adverse reactions to veterinary medicine in Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan African market is highly affected by counterfeit veterinary drugs. Though these counterfeit and non-compliance of drugs can induce adverse effects during their utilization, there is no monitoring system of veterinary medicines. The present pilot study was carried out in Cameroon to identify and describe suspected cases of adverse reactions to veterinary drugs in animals and / or humans as well as inefficacy of veterinary drugs. The methodology involved a descriptive cross-sectional survey of 67 actors in the veterinary medicine sector in Cameroon. RESULTS: A total of 74/120 (62%) cases of suspected adverse effects and or lack of efficacy of veterinary drugs in animals and 46 (38%) cases of adverse reactions in humans were identified. Antiparasitics were the most incriminated therapeutic class in animals (61%) and human (56%). Adverse reactions were reported in dogs (44%) and poultry (24%) while drug inefficacy was most observed in poultry (47%). According to animal health professionals, levamisole (24%) and ivermectin (16%) were identified to be responsible for the adverse effects and that the highest level of inefficacy was most frequently reported for oxytetracycline (29%). The main adverse reactions were systemic (22%), gastrointestinal (20%) and neurological (13%) disorders. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that misuse and circulation of poor quality as well as lack of efficacy of veterinary drugs is very common in Cameroon. Adverse reactions were observed in animals and humans. Therefore, the establishment of a national veterinary pharmacovigilance system based on solid legal bases is essential for a continuous assessment of the risks-benefits effects of veterinary drugs marketed in Cameroon.

Antimicrobial resistance from a one health perspective in Cameroon: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is widely acknowledged as a global health problem, yet in many parts of the world its magnitude is not well elucidated. A baseline assessment of the AMR prevalence is a priority for implementation of laboratory-based AMR surveillance This review, focused on a One health approach, aimed at describing the current status of AMR in Cameroon. METHODS: PubMed, Google Scholar and African Journals Online databases were searched for articles published in English and French in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Retrieval and screening of article was done using a structured search string with strict inclusion/exclusion criteria. Free-text and grey literature were obtained by contacting the authors directly. The pooled prevalence and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each pathogen-antibiotic pairs using random-effects models. RESULT: Amongst 97 full-text articles reviewed, 66 met the eligibility criteria. The studies originated from the Centre (24; 36.4%), South-West (16; 24.2%), West (13; 19.7%), Littoral (9; 13.6%) and other (4; 6.1%) regions of Cameroon. These studies reported AMR in human (45; 68.2%), animals (9; 13.6%) and the environment (12; 18.2%). Overall, 19 species of bacteria were tested against 48 antibiotics. These organisms were resistant to all classes of antibiotics and showed high levels of multidrug resistance. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus spp were reported in 23, 19 and 18 of the human studies and revealed multidrug resistance (MDR) rates of 47.1% [95% CI (37.3-57.2%)], 51.0% [95% CI (42.0-59.9)] and 45.2% [95% CI (38.0-54.7)], respectively. Salmonella spp was reported in 6 of the animal studies and showed a MDR rate of 46.2% [95% CI (39.2-53.5%)] while Staphylococcus spp in 8 of environment studies showed MDR rate of 67.1% [95% CI (55.2-77.2%)]. CONCLUSION: This review shows that resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics in Cameroon is high. The findings emphasize the urgent need to address gaps in the standardization of AMR diagnostics, reporting and use of available information to optimize treatment guidelines for the arsenal of antibiotics. Effective AMR surveillance through continued data sharing, large-scale collaboration, and coordination of all stakeholders is essential to understand and manage the AMR national burden.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of brucellosis among slaughtered indigenous cattle, abattoir personnel and pregnant women in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is a neglected debilitating zoonosis with a high prevalence in many developing countries. Bovine brucellosis is widespread in Cameroon but the epidemiological situation of human brucellosis is not known. A cross sectional study was carried to determine the seroprevalence and factors associated with bovine and human Brucellosis among abattoir personnel and pregnant women in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. METHODS: Serum sample from 590 abattoir cattle and 816 plausible occupational risk and vulnerable humans to brucellosis (107 abattoir personnel and 709 pregnant women) were collected and screened for anti-brucella antibodies using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and ELISA tests. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on socio-demographics and risk-factors. The differences in proportions between seropositive and seronegative reactors were tested using odds-ratio and χ2tests. RESULTS: Bovine brucellosis seroprevalence was at 3.40% (n = 590; 3.4% for RBPT, 5.93% for i-ELISA). Human Brucella seroprevalence was at 5.6% among abattoir personnel (n = 107; 5.6% for RBPT, 12.15% for Brucella IgG ELISA) and 0.28% in pregnant women (n = 709; both tests). Breed (P < 0.00001) was associated with increased risk of brucellosis in cattle and the seroprevalence was highest among the Djafoun (OR = 16.67, 95%CI: 4.49-28.85) and Akou (OR = 16.96, 95% CI: 0.10-23.91) cattle compared to the other breeds. There was a moderate positive correlation (R2 = 0.5025) of Brucella IgG concentrations (> 200 U/ml) and clinical data for Brucella IgG ELISA seropositive humans. Several potential factors were associated (P > 0.05) with increased risk of human brucellosis seroprevalence among the abattoir personnel. The abattoir personnel were essentially males; the seropositive respondents were male and did not use protective equipment at work. Handling of foetus and uterine contents (OR = 13.00, 95%CI: 1.51-111.88) was associated with increased risk of human brucellosis. CONCLUSIONS: Antibrucella antibodies are prevalent in cattle (3.40%), among abattoir personnel (5.60%) and in pregnant women (0.28%) in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. The study reports the first evidence of human brucellosis in Cameroon and therefore, an indication of a real public health problem. Public awareness campaigns and health education especially among livestock professional and in agropastoral communities should be highlighted to disseminate knowledge, associated risk factors and control measures of brucellosis.

Prevalence and zoonotic risk factors of Mycobacterium bovis tuberculosis in cattle at the cattle-wildlife-human interface in South and East Cameroon.

Background and Aim: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a contagious and notifiable disease, which is prevalent in cattle populations of many countries and in several wildlife species worldwide. However, the role of wildlife in the transmission and/or maintenance of bTB at the human-wild animal-animal interface and the epidemiology of zoonotic disease are poorly understood in Cameroon, where many wildlife species exist. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and zoonotic risk factors of bTB at the cattle-wildlife-human interface in the South and East regions of Cameroon. Materials and Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study from May to October 2022 in the southern region (Vallée du Ntem and Dja et Lobo) and eastern region (Haut Nyong and Lom et Djérem) of Cameroon to determine risk factors for bTB in Zebu Bororo, Goudali, Ndama, and Simmental cattle breeds. A comparative intradermal tuberculin testing (CIDT) was performed on 160 cattle randomly selected from herds using the threshold recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health. An interviewee-administered questionnaire was used to gather epidemiological data on sociodemographics, interaction between cattle and wildlife, and awareness of zoonotic tuberculosis (TB) from 90 cattle professionals. The prevalence of bTB at the herd level and associated risk factors were estimated using multiple logistic regression models. Results: Based on the comparative intradermal tuberculin test (CIDT), the estimated prevalence of bTB in 160 cattle (Zebu Bororo, Goudali, Ndama, and Simmental) in South and East Cameroon was 6.8% (4.35%-9.41%) and 1.8% (0%-3.6%) for threshold values 3 mm and 4 mm, respectively. The prevalence obtained by simple intradermal tuberculin test (IDT) was 0.6% (0%-1.2%) for a threshold value 4 mm. Univariate analysis revealed three risk factors associated with bTB with significant odds ratios (OR; p = 0.05): herd size (OR = 4.88; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24-32.56); cattle aged>10 years (OR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.05-0.53); and victims of bTB organ seizure (OR = 0.015; 95% CI: 0.002-0.067). Multivariate analysis showed that being a cattle herder and contact between wildlife and livestock due to forage was significantly associated with bTB exposure (adjusted OR = 0.02; p = 0.001). Conclusion: Bovine TB is prevalent in cattle of the South and East Cameroon. Comparative IDT of cattle reared in the epidemiological and environmental context of the study areas yielded better results at a threshold of 3 mm than at a threshold of 4 mm recommended by the World Health Organization. Factors associated with exposure to/appearance of bTB were high herd size, cattle aged >10 years old, seizures of tuberculous organs, shepherding as a profession, and contact between cattle and wildlife can be due to lack of forage.

Molecular genotyping of Mycobacterium bovis isolated from cattle tissues in the North West Region of Cameroon.

An epidemiological study was carried out to determine the Mycobacterium bovis strains causing bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cattle in North West Cameroon. Suspected TB lesions from slaughtered cattle were cultured on Lowenstein-Jensen and Middlebrook 7 H9 media to isolate mycobacteria agents for molecular genotyping using deletion analysis and spoligotyping. PCR-based genomic deletion typing showed that 54 of 103 tubercle bacilli isolated from cattle tissue were M. bovis strains and the African 1 clonal complex was widespread in affected cattle. Spoligotyping analysis revealed a closely related group of five M. bovis strains. SB0953, the dominant spoligotype pattern, and four new patterns identified as SB2161, SB2162, SB2663 and SB2664 according to the www.Mbovis.org international spoligotype database were identified. These spoligotypes were similar to other M. bovis strains recovered from bordering regions and other parts of Africa. The findings provided useful facts on the zoonotic risks of bovine TB and overwhelming evidence of the significance of M. bovis infection to human TB in the North West Region of Cameroon. The study revealed that bovine TB was widespread in cattle destined for human consumption and also has important implications for the control of TB in animals and humans in Cameroon.

Prevalence and public health significance of rabies virus in bats in the North Region of Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: Rabies is a zoonotic disease of all warm-blooded animals including humans. There is a paucity of data on the status of rabies in wild animals in Cameroon and the disease is endemic in the country with dogs being the main source of transmission. Bat habitats are widespread in Cameroon, but there is limited information on the prevalence of rabies in bats, and their role of as potential reservoirs of rabies virus. METHODS: A cross sectional study was carried out to estimate the prevalence and to assess risk factors of rabies virus in bats in the North Region of Cameroon. A total of 212 bats belonging to three families (Pteropodidae, Vespertilionidae and Molossidae) and 5 species were sampled in 7 localities in the North Region of Cameroon and were tested for rabies virus antigen using direct Immunofluorescence Test (IFA). RESULTS: Overall, 26.9% (57/212) of the bats collected showed an IFA positive reaction. The prevalence was significantly higher (P<0.05) in adult bats (33.3% (36/108)) compared to young individuals (20.2%; 21/104). The main risk factors identified in the study for human exposure to bats were gender (Male), religion (Christianity), localities (Babla and Lagdo), the practice of bat hunting, bat consumption, unawareness of bat rabies and cohabitation with bats in close proximity. CONCLUSION: The study revealed the first evidence of Lyssavirus in bats in Cameroon. This finding showed that bat rabies are real and represents a potential public health concern in communities with bat habitats in the North Region of Cameroon. Enhancing the level of public awareness and health education on the potential of bats as reservoirs of Lyssavirus in Cameroon as well as the integration of the "One Health" approach for effective management of animal and human rabies should be emphasized.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of African Horse Sickness in Three Agroecological Zones of Cameroon.

African horse sickness (AHS), a highly fatal arbovirosis of equines is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. However, its epidemiology is poorly known in Cameroon. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence profile and risk factors of African horse sickness in Cameroon. Horse sera were subjected to the ELISA blocking test for the determination of antibodies against African horse sickness virus, and positive samples were submitted to capture ELISA to determine the presence of antigens. Potential risk factors associated with AHS were assessed based on the information collected in the field. The chi-square test and the odd ratio (OR) were used to test the association between serology and the different variables. Of the 336 sera obtained, 198 were positive for antibodies with a prevalence of 58.93% (CI: 53.67-64.19). From the 198 positive sera to antibodies, only one revealed positivity to antigens with a prevalence of 0.51% (CI: 0-1.5). Agroecological zone I (94.31%, CI: 91.83-96.79, OR: 34.92) was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the higher risk of disease dissemination than agroecological zone II (66.67%, CI: 61.63-71.71, OR: 4.21) and agroecological zone III (32.18%, CI: 27.18-37.18; OR: 1). Males (63.59%, CI: 58.44-68.74, OR: 1) were significantly (p < 0.05) affected than females (50.42%, CI: 45.07-55.77; OR: 0.58). Horses of more than 8 years (76.00%, CI: 71.43-80.57) were significantly (p < 0.05) at risk than young animals of less than 3 years old (32.14%, CI: 27.15-37.13, OR: 0.15). This study highlights a high seroprevalence of antibodies of African horse sickness in Cameroon. Agroecological zone, age, and the importation of horses were highly associated with the distribution of disease at the national level.

Cross-Sectional Survey of Prophylactic and Metaphylactic Antimicrobial Use in Layer Poultry Farming in Cameroon: A Quantitative Pilot Study.

An evaluation of the patterns of antimicrobial use in livestock can help understand the increasing level of antimicrobial resistance worldwide. This study aimed at evaluating antimicrobial usage in modern layer poultry farms in the West Region of Cameroon. In this light, 70 layer poultry farms and 4 veterinary pharmacies were surveyed. Data on antimicrobial use were collected through interviews using a quantitative-frequency questionnaire and consultation of medical records. The four veterinary pharmacies sold a total of 2.8 tons of antimicrobials (active ingredients) during 2011. At the level of farms, 297 kg of antimicrobials (active ingredients) were used in the 50 layer poultry farms surveyed. Tetracycline, sulfonamides, quinolones, and ß-lactams (aminopenicillins) were the most sold and used drugs in layer farms. As for treatment indication, metaphylactic (58.1%) and prophylactic (41.9%) treatments were the most observed practices, and nearly all (99%) treatments were administered per os as remedies to respiratory (33.4%) and digestive (24.7%) tract symptoms. Overall, 78.2% of antimicrobials sold in pharmacies and 67.3% used in the farms belonged to the class of critically important antimicrobials of the WHO categorization of antimicrobials according to their importance to human medicine. Doxycycline, sulfonamide, ampicillin, and streptomycin, which have been banned for layer poultry in the production of eggs for human consumption, were still used in Cameroon. The treatment incidences based on the used daily dose (TIUDD) and animal daily dose (TIADD) were 11.59 and 10.45, respectively. In regard to dosage correctness based on the UDD/ADD ratio, aminoglycosides (100%), macrolides (90.6%), and tetracyclines (74.5%) were the most underdosed, while trimethoprim sulfonamides (45.8%) and ß-lactams (35.7%) were overdosed. This study highlights an irrational antimicrobial usage in layer poultry farms. Regulation of the use of antimicrobials and the education of farmers on adequate antimicrobial use are essential to preserve the effectiveness of drugs in both humans and animals.

Associations between antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from poultry litter under field conditions in Cameroon.

Lack of hygiene and biosecurity measures in poultry farms has influence on the emergence of pathogens and antimicrobial use. Antimicrobial residues in poultry meat and their excretion by poultry can exert a selective pressure and the occurrence of multidrug resistant bacteria in litter. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance using Escherichia coli as indicator isolated from poultry litter. From January to August, 2019, antimicrobial use was measured in 47 broiler farms based on daily dose (TIUDD) and animal daily dose (TIADD) methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on Escherichia coli isolated from poultry litter using the disk diffusion method. Overall, an average of 143.8 mg (ranging from 0.5 to 2061.79 mg/kg) of antimicrobials was used per kg of chicken produced, and treatment incidences of 69.7 daily doses per 1,000 broilers (44.44-106.35) and 87.3 daily doses per 1,000 broilers (1.74-376.43) were obtained for TIUDD and TIADD, respectively. After a susceptibility testing, 18 E. coli strains were resistant with a prevalence of 56.3% [95% CI: 39.1-73.5]. High levels of resistance were observed with doxycycline, ampicillin and norfloxacin which were observed to be mostly overdosed in farms. The high resistance of E. coli to ciprofloxacin (4/32: 13%), imipenem (6/32: 19%), levofloxacin (12/32: 38%) and ceftriaxone (22/32: 69%) which are second line treatment in hospital settings in Cameroon, and classified as Watch group by WHO, was associated to high AMR risk for public health in Cameroon. Intensification of health and educational sensitisation of farmers is essential to reduce widespread antimicrobial use in poultry farms and its impact public health.

Heritability Estimate for Antibody Response to Vaccination and Survival to a Newcastle Disease Infection of Native chicken in a Low-Input Production System.

The Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is the deadliest chicken pathogen in low-input village poultry, and selecting for NDV resistance has been recommended as a sustainable strategy in backyard poultry production systems. However, selecting for disease resistance needs precision data from either a big population sample size or on many generations with good pedigree records for effective prediction of heritability (h2 ) and breeding values of the foundation stock. Such conditions are almost impossible to meet in low-input backyard production systems. This study aimed at proposing a realistic method for estimating the heritability of the immune response to vaccination and survival of NDV infection in village poultry production to inform a breeding strategy for ND resistance in Cameroon. A 1 and 3% selection intensity of cocks and hens for higher antibody (ab) response (ABR) to vaccination followed by progeny selection of chickens who survived an experimental NDV infection was conducted from an initial population of 1,702 chickens. The selection induced an increase of 1012.47units/ml (p<0.01) of the NDV antibody of the progeny as well as an effective survival rate (ESR) increase of 11.75%. Three methods were used to estimate the heritability ( h 2 ) of NDV antibody response to vaccination. h 2 was low irrespective of the method with estimates of 0.2227, 0.2442, and 0.2839 for the breeder's equation method, the graphical method, and the full-sib/half-sib nested design, respectively. The mortality rate of infected chickens was high (86%). The antibody response to selection was not influenced by sex and genetic type even though the opposite was observed (p<0.05) for the ESR to NDV infection with naked neck chickens recording an ESR of 14% against 2.25% for the normal feather type. A very low heritability (0.0891) was observed for the survival against NDV infection. We confirm the evidence of disease resistance and the effect of selection for antibody response to vaccination on the improvement of the survival against NDV disease. Although the full sib/half sib nested design is more appropriate in case of availability of pedigree information, the direct methods are still useful in case of unavailability of full pedigree information. It is recommended that gene expression analysis should be prioritized for disease-resistance assessment and selection of native breeds of poultry.

Prescription Pattern of Antimicrobial Use in Small Animal Veterinary Practice in Cameroon.

Retrospective data on antimicrobial use (AMU) within the period ranging from January 2012-December 2015 was collected to assess the antimicrobial prescription patterns in pets (cats and dogs) treated by 16 veterinary private practitioners in the 2 main urban cities of Cameroon (Douala and Yaounde). The vet practitioners were interviewed in order to analyze prescribing behavior and factors influencing antimicrobial prescription. Out of a total of 3928 antimicrobial prescriptions, 3673(93.5%) were recorded in dogs and 255 (6.5%) in cats during the study period in 7 veterinary clinics. The most prescribed antimicrobials were sulfamethoxypyridazine-trimethoprim (dog: 31.2%; cat: 28.6%), benzylpenicillin-streptomycin (dogs:19.0%; cat:21.9%) and marbofloxacin (dogs:18.3%; cats:16.1%). Almost, 64.6% of antimicrobial prescription in dogs was categorized as highly important antimicrobials and 34.9% as critically important antimicrobial agents. In cats, 77.9% of antimicrobial prescription was categorized as highly important antimicrobials and 22.1% as critically important antimicrobial agents. Antimicrobials were mostly used for gastro-intestinal disorders (31.9%) and skin diseases (24. 1%) in dogs while they were mostly applied for surgical problems (29.8%), musculo-skeletal disease (20.4%) and gastro-intestinal tract diseases (19.6%) in cats. Fluoroquinolones were administered as first option instead of third option. Antimicrobials were associated with other veterinary drugs (anti-inflammatory, internal and external parasite therapy) in 75.3% of cases. The prescription of antimicrobials was based on clinical diagnosis (symptom-based), ease of drug administration, owner's purchasing power and antibiogram. This study highlights the necessity to promote antimicrobial stewardship in pet medicine in Cameroon. Confirmatory diagnosis and antibiotic susceptibility testing before antibiotic prescription should be encouraged. The uncontrolled use of critically important antimicrobials for human medicine and especially their indiscriminate use may favor the occurrence of AMR public health issues.

Antimicrobial use and practices by animal health professionals in 20 sub-Saharan African countries.

The use of antimicrobial (AM) in animal production is an important contributor to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) worldwide. Animal health professionals should play a key role in ensuring judicious use of AM. However, they are subjected to influence from clinical and non-clinical factors. The present study evaluates the perceptions and concerns of animal health practitioners regarding antimicrobial use (AMU) and prescription practices. A cross-sectional online questionnaire survey was conducted among animal health practitioners, predominantly veterinary doctors (88 %) in 20 African countries. Results showed that the most prescribed and administered AM were tetracycline (66 %) followed by ß-lactams (32 %) and macrolides (25 %). Most respondents were very confident in deciding on the right dose of AM (77 %) and treatment plans (76 %) as compared to choosing the correct AM (52 %) and making an accurate diagnosis (46 %). Self-reported confidence in the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship was significantly influenced by the respondents' work environment, gender and access to information on AM. Lack of diagnostic facilities and susceptibility tests were major hindrances to adequate prescriptions and use of AM. Perceived drivers of AMR identified were excessive prescription by animal health professionals and the use of AM without proper diagnosis. Almost two thirds (62 %) of the respondents had sufficient information on AM when needed while the main source of information was professional training and drug labels. Thus, reinforcement of regional and country-level guidelines and tailored continuing education programs for veterinarians as well as the development of field-friendly disease diagnosis and management tools are essential to considerably improve AMU.

Poultry Litter Contamination by Escherichia coli Resistant to Critically Important Antimicrobials for Human and Animal Use and Risk for Public Health in Cameroon.

Residues of antimicrobials used in farm can exert selective pressure and accelerate the occurrence of multidrug resistant bacteria in litter. This study aimed to investigate the resistance profile of Escherichia coli isolated from poultry litter. A total of 101 E. coli strains was isolated from 229 litter samples collected and stored for two months in the laboratory at room temperature. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method. An overall resistance prevalence of 58.4% (95% CI: 48.8-68.0) was obtained with 59 E. coli strains resistant to various antimicrobial agents. High levels of resistance were observed with ciprofloxacin (21/59: 36%), imipenem (27/59: 45%), norfloxacin (44/59: 74%), ceftriaxone (44/59: 74%), and levofloxacin (44/59: 75%). These antimicrobials classified under the Watch group by WHO are indicators of the high AMR risk to public health in Cameroon. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that a greater probability of high level of E. coli multidrug resistance was associated with lack of training in poultry farming (OR = 0.13, p = 0.01), less experience in poultry farming (OR = 11.66 p = 0.04), and the high frequency of digestive tract disease (OR = 0.10; p = 0.001). This study revealed that poultry litter constitutes a potential source of dissemination of resistant germs from farm animals to the environment and humans.

Knowledge, attitudes, practices and risk perception of rural poultry farmers in Cameroon to antimicrobial use and resistance.

There is wide use of antimicrobial products in rural poultry farms in most sub-Sahara African countries. However, little is known of the factors that motivate rural poultry farmers towards antimicrobial use (AMU) and their level of awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This cross sectional survey was conducted to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, practices, perception of poultry farmers in Cameroon about AMU and risk of AMR (KAPP) (n = 358). The data collection was conducted using questionnaires administered through face-to-face interview and the responses were recoded into binary scale. The sum of sufficient responses provided by each participant divided by the total number of items within the category gave a percentage of correct answers. One-way ANOVA was used to assess significant differences of mean KAPP scores across regions. Pearson correlations were used to calculate the association between KAPP scores across and within regions, while the linear regression was done to explore the relationship between demographics and farmer's dynamic characteristics. Overall, surveyed poultry farmers showed low mean score knowledge of AMU (0.30 ±â€¯0.24) and AMR (0.26 ±â€¯0.22), desirable attitude (0.29 ±â€¯0.29), appropriate practice (0.58 ±â€¯0.18) towards AMU and positive risk perception of AMR (0.37 ±â€¯0.21). Digestive tract infections and chronic respiratory diseases were the most common reasons for antimicrobial use and for preventive purposes. Gender, experience in poultry farming and stocking density were negatively associated with practice of antimicrobial use. Inappropriate combination of antimicrobials with diuretics or tetracyclines and minerals for treatment purposes were frequently observed. The findings revealed strong positive association between educational level and KAPP score and between biosecurity measures and AMU and risk perception of AMR. Thus, continuous education of rural poultry farmers on husbandry norms, drug use and microbial resistance in animal farms will enhance their knowledge and risk perception on AMU as well as enable them adopt suitable attitude and practices to control animal and human health hazards due to AMR.

Challenges of antimicrobial consumption surveillance in food-producing animals in sub-Saharan African countries: Patterns of antimicrobials imported in Cameroon from 2014 to 2019.

OBJECTIVE: Antimicrobial consumption surveillance is a useful tool for planning antimicrobial resistance control strategies and risk analysis. The present study was carried out to evaluate the consumption trends of antimicrobials for veterinary use in food-producing animals in Cameroon from 2014 to 2019. METHODS: Data on quantities of classes of active substances were collected from the records of the technical authorization to import veterinary drugs of suppliers' invoices at the Ministry of Livestock (MINEPIA); animal population data were collected from the FAO-Stat database. RESULTS: The study revealed that 217.67tonnes of antimicrobials (by weight of active substance) were imported during the 6-year period, with an average of 36.28±10.11tonnes per year. Tetracyclines (31.71%), sulfonamides (23.84%), quinolones (11.11%) and ß-lactams (10.17%) were the most commonly imported classes of antimicrobials. With regard to the importance of veterinary antimicrobials to human medicine, critically important antimicrobial (34.3%), reserve (4.6%) and watch (25.5%) groups as classified by the WHO AWaRe categorization were recorded. Overall, a mean of 5.24±1.40mg/PCU (population correction unit) was used in all food-producing animals during the 6-year period. However, the mean quantity of antimicrobials adjusted by animal biomass was highest in poultry (213.32±50.26mg/kg), followed by pigs (63.04±18.87mg/kg), cattle (4.11±2.20mg/kg), sheep (0.83±0.43mg/kg) and goats (0.47±0.24mg/kg). CONCLUSION: Strict surveillance systems of antimicrobial consumption in the country are vital to optimize control strategies. Monitoring importation data of veterinary antimicrobial products could be useful for sub-Saharan African countries to quantify consumption and estimate trends for antimicrobial usage effectively.

Effect of deforestation on prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites and mosquito abundance in a tropical rainforest of Cameroon.

Habitat change caused by deforestation can modify the interactions of many biotic and abiotic factors, and in turn influence patterns of diseases in wild birds. Whether deforestation directly or indirectly affects the prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites through their hosts and/or vectors is still not well understood. We sampled understory bird communities (insectivorous, frugivorous, granivorous and nectarivorous birds) and mosquitoes in three habitats showing a gradient of deforestation (pristine forest, fragmented forest, and young palm oil plantation), to assess the effects of habitat changes on avian haemosporidian (Plasmodium and Haemoproteus) prevalence and its relationship to bird feeding guilds and mosquito abundance. Blood samples of 845 individual birds belonging to 85 species and 27 families were collected in the three habitat types and screened using microscopy and PCR. Plasmodium infections were detected in 136 individuals (16.09%) and varied significantly among habitat types while Haemoproteus infections were detected in 98 individuals (11.60%) and did not vary significantly among habitat types. However, the prevalence of Plasmodium and Haemoproteus in bird feeding groups varied significantly among habitats. Nectarivorous and granivorous birds had the highest Plasmodium and Haemoproteus prevalence, respectively. The abundance of mosquitoes varied significantly among habitat types and the prevalence of Plasmodium significantly and positively correlated with mosquito abundance in fragmented forest. This study highlights the importance of host and mosquito determinants in the transmission dynamics of avian Plasmodium and Haemoproteus infections following habitat changes. Selective logging favored an increase in the prevalence of Plasmodium in insectivores, the prevalence of Haemoproteus in nectarivores and the abundance of female mosquitoes while, the establishment of the palm oil plantation favored an increase in the prevalence of Plasmodium in granivores and Haemoproteus in nectarivores. Species feeding behavior is also an important determinant to consider for a better understanding of patterns of parasite infections in a changing environment.

Prevalence of porcine Taenia solium and Taenia hydatigena cysticercosis in Cameroon.

Taenia solium, a zoonotic tapeworm species of human and pigs, has been targeted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for elimination in endemic areas of Africa, Latin America and some parts of Asia. Unfortunately, the assessment of control measures against T. solium is complicated by the lack of specificity of current immunodiagnostic techniques for diagnosis of porcine cysticercosis. Many authors have concluded that the prevalence of T. hydatigena in pigs in Africa is low and extensive epidemiological studies on T. solium cysticercosis in pigs have been carried out using serological tests that cannot differentiate the taeniid species. To estimate and compare the prevalence of T. solium and T. hydatigena in pigs in Cameroon, we examined 416 slaughtered pigs at a pig abattoir in Yaoundé city with the animals originating from several parts of the country. At post-mortem inspection, 35 pigs (8.4%; 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 5.9-11.5 %) were found infected exclusively with T. solium and 27 (6.5%; 95% CI, 4.3-9.3 %) infected exclusively with T. hydatigena metacestodes. One animal was infected with T. solium and T. hydatigena. A stochastic simulation model which took into account the sensitivity of dissection of the tongue, external masseters and heart for diagnosis of T. solium porcine cysticercosis (TMH dissection test) and examination of mesentery, surfaces of the intestines and liver to identify T. hydatigena cysticerci in slaughtered pigs was developed to estimate the prevalence of these taeniid species. The results revealed that the actual prevalence of T. solium and T. hydatigena in Cameroon were 24.8% (95% CI, 20.1-30.5%) and 19.2% (95% CI, 15.1-24.1%), respectively. This study reports the highest porcine T. hydatigena prevalence ever in Africa and adjusted the prevalence of porcine T. solium infection obtained with genus-specific Ag-ELISA (Dorny et al., 2000) in Cameroon due to the presence of T. hydatigena.

A comparison of Taenia solium and Taenia hydatigena infection in pigs using serological diagnosis and post-mortem inspection methods in Benoué division, North Cameroon.

The metacestodes of Taenia solium and Taenia hydatigena are the cause of cysticercosis in pigs. T. solium is also responsible of the taeniosis/neurocysticercosis complex in humans, constituting a main cause of epilepsy cases across endemic countries. T. hydatigena is non-zoonotic, but its occurrence in pigs contributes significantly to false positive reactions should genus-species serological methods be used for diagnosis of T. solium porcine cysticercosis. T. hydatigena is often considered not common in pigs in Africa compared to T. solium. On the basis of the evidence that these two cestodes coexist in Cameroon, we examined the viscera of 305 pigs for the identification of the metacestodes of T. hydatigena in Bénoué division, North Region of Cameroon. Tongue, masticatory muscles and heart were sliced for the identification of T. solium cysticerci (TMH dissection test). Twenty seven (8.85%) and 16 (5.24%) pigs were found infected with the metacestodes of T. solium and T. hydatigena, respectively. The difference between the two rates of infection was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Serum samples were also collected for the evaluation of an inhibition ELISA (i-ELISA) specific to antibodies anti- T. solium or anti-T. hydatigena cysticerci. After incubation of these sera with cyst fluid of T. solium, T. hydatigena, T. multiceps multiceps, T. multiceps gaigeri and T. saginata to eliminate cross-reactions among cestodes parasites, the i-ELISA indicated that 26.56% and 28.52% slaughtered pigs had predominant specific antibodies to cyst fluid of T. solium and T. hydatigena, respectively. Combination of TMH dissection test, i-ELISA and a standard indirect ELISA in a Bayesian simulation approach revealed a true prevalence of 19.27% (0.7-49.27, CI 95%) and 24.85% (5.17-48.34, CI 95%) of porcine cysticercosis due to T. solium and T. hydatigena, respectively. These results indicated that T. hydatigena is as prevalent as T. solium in pigs in the North of Cameroon.