Seroprevalence and determinants of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato infection among owned dogs in Ibadan, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Humans acquire cystic echinococcosis through accidental ingestion of Echinococcus granulosus (EG) eggs released into the environment by infected dogs. This study aimed to determine the presence of EG antibodies and their determinants in owned dogs in Ibadan, Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: Sera from 185 dogs on routine visits to veterinary clinics were analysed by indirect ELISA. A questionnaire was administered to dog owners to obtain data on demographics, management, and environmental factors. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, and logistic regression at α0.05. RESULTS: The median age of the dogs was 20 months (range 2 - 96). The seroprevalence of EG infection was 33.51% (95% CI: 26.71, 40.32%). Low educational level of dog owners (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.3, 5.8); local dog breeds (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.7, 6.0); confinement (OR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2, 0.8); interaction with other dogs (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.4, 7.3); self-dewormed dogs (OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.2, 5.9) and never dewormed dogs (OR: 4.39; CI: 1.9, 10.0) were significantly associated with EG seropositivity. Our results suggest also that local breed of dog (AOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.2, 4.9), self-deworming of dogs (AOR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.1, 5.9) and the absence of any dog deworming treatment (AOR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.2, 7.1) might be predictive of EG seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides evidence of EG infection in owned dogs, especially in those medicated by owners. Deworming practices should be based on the recommendations of a veterinarian to effectively prevent EG transmission from dogs to humans.

Detection of African swine fever virus in pigs in Southwest Nigeria.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Nigeria experienced repeated outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in pig herds between 1997 and 2005 in the southwest region of the country. ASF is believed to currently be enzootic in this region. The status of enzootic transmission of ASF virus strain to pigs is; however, unknown. Twenty-three genotypes of the ASF virus based on the p72 gene are found across Africa. This study aimed to identify the current circulating field strain(s) of the ASF virus in Southwest Nigeria and characterized evolutionary trends. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA samples were extracted from 144 pooled blood samples obtained from 2012 to 2013 following the manufacturer's instructions. DNA was used for conventional polymerase chain reaction using primers targeting the p72 gene and amplified products sequenced with Sanger's sequencing. Sequences were analyzed for homology and phylogenetic relationships. RESULTS: Eleven of 144 samples (7.6%) showed bands at 950 bp. A new field strain of ASF virus of genotype I that shared ancestry with ASF virus strains or isolates from Spain and Brazil was identified among pig herds. The new strain differs phylogenetically in amino acid composition compared with previously identified ASF virus field strains. CONCLUSION: The currently circulating field strain of ASF virus suggests a mutation responsible for decreased morbidity and mortality recorded in sporadic cases.

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.

Improving dog bite victim survey and estimation of annual human deaths due to suspected rabies cases in three selected Liberian cities and environs, 2008-2017.

Rabies remains a public health challenge of unknown magnitude in Liberia in spite of the goal of ensuring that no human in the country dies of rabies by 2030. The annual prevalence of Dog Bite Victims (DBVs) and true load of Annual Human Deaths (AHDs) due to rabies were not known. We investigated three selected cities of Liberia for annual prevalence of DBVs and true load of AHD due to suspected rabies, using 10-year retrospective record, 2008-2017 obtained from Buchanan, Gbarnga, and Voinjama, three socio-economically important cities in post-conflict Liberia. Data were sourced at County Reference Hospitals and at the Liberia National Institute of Health for these cities and their local environs. In addition, household questionnaire survey was used to identify and audit data quality for unreported DBVs, and treatment received from traditional caregivers. The proportion was used to audit the 10-year data on unreported DBVs in the cities. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize annual DBVs over the 10-year period in the three cities, respectively. A standardized clinical decision tree model was used to estimate AHDs due to suspected rabies. Based on questionnaire survey, 140/365, 148/375 and 146/350 DBVs did not visit any orthodox health facility in Buchanan, Gbarnga and Voinjama cities, respectively in 2014. An estimated total of 559 DBVs died of suspected rabies in the three cities and their environs during the 10-year period. Mean yearly prevalence of DBVs was 179±106.82, 393±257.85 and 76.9±38.11 per 100,000 population, while mean AHDs due to suspected rabies was 14.3±8.47, 35.5±23.25, and 6.1±3.21 per 100,000 population in Buchanan, Gbarnga, and Voinjama cities, respectively. The present findings provide annual prevalence of suspected rabies cases, corrected for under-reporting in three selected cities of Liberia. The findings would be useful in planning for stepwise actions towards rabies elimination, ensuring that no human dies of rabies in Liberia by 2030.

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.

Preventive and social cost implications of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak on selected organizations in Lagos state, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: As Ebola virus disease (EVD) continues to pose public health challenge in West Africa, with attending fears and socio-economic implications in the current epidemic challenges. It is compelling to estimate the social and preventive costs of EVD containment in a Nigerian city. Hence, this study was to determine the social and preventive cost implications of EVD among selected public institutions in Lagos, Nigeria, from July to December, 2014. METHODS: Questionnaires and key-informants interview were administered to respondents and administrators of selected hospitals, hotels and schools in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State. Knowledge of disease transmission, mortality and protocols for prevention, including cost of specific preventive measures adopted against EVD were elicited from respondents. Descriptive statistics and categorical analysis were used to summarize and estimate social and preventive costs incurred by respective institutions. RESULTS: An estimated five million, nineteen thousand, three hundred and seventy-nine Naira and eighty kobo (N5,019,379.80) only was observed as direct and social cost implication of EVD prevention. This amount translated into a conservative estimate of one billion, twenty-seven million, ninety-four thousand, seven hundred and fifty-six Naira (N1,027,094,756.10) for a total of four thousand schools, two hundred and fifty-three hospitals and one thousand, four hundred and fifty one hotels in Lagos during the period (July 20-November 20, 2014). CONCLUSION: The high cost of prevention of EVD within the short time-frame indicated high importance attached to a preventive policy against highly pathogenic zoonotic disease in Nigeria.

It is over three decades of graduate education in Epizootiology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria (1975-2011): is there a need to revise the curriculum?

Epizootiology is the study of variable factors, events, forces and circumstances that contribute to the occurrence, distribution, control and prevention of ill-health, diseases and other problems in animal groups. It is a key component of veterinary medicine education at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria since 1975. It started as a Graduate Certificate in Epizootiology (GCE) in 1976. Later it was revised into M.Sc. Epizootiology in 1986. At graduate level, epizootiology curriculum has supported the M.Sc. Epizootiology programme. It compliments training in Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine. This epizootiology curriculum has been operational at graduate level for more than three decades. Now in 2011, a consortium of English speaking West African Universities is committed to review the current curriculum at the University of Ibadan to strengthen health systems in an interdependent world with scope for internationalized practicum in disease investigation. Emphases are made towards skills development in molecular studies on disease causal agents and the mapping of associated geographic risk factors, including indigenous knowledge and practices. It is notable that most English-speaking West African countries including Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Gambia either lack a Veterinary School or just started some, but do not have graduate programme in Epizootiology. Thus, the curriculum at Ibadan is positioned to make impact in three key areas, namely, sub-regional ecosystem health studies, improving human-animal disease surveillance programmes, and in indigenization of bio-technology for monitoring and evaluation of trans-boundary animal disease control interventions for global health in West Africa.