Africa-wide meta-analysis on the prevalence and distribution of human cystic echinococcosis and canine Echinococcus granulosus infections.

BACKGROUND: Echinococcosis is a neglected zoonosis of increasing public health concern worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, 19,300 lives and 871,000 disability-adjusted life-years are lost globally each year because of cystic echinococcosis. Annual costs associated with cystic echinococcosis were estimated at US$ 3 billion because of treatment of cases and losses in the livestock industry. METHODS: We performed the random-effects model of meta-analysis using 51-year (1970-2021) data available from AJOL, Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science. We also applied the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal instrument for studies reporting prevalence data, the Cochran's Q-test, Egger's regression test and the single study deletion technique to respectively examine within-study bias, heterogeneity, across-study bias and sensitivity. RESULTS: Thirty-nine eligible studies on human cystic echinococcosis (HCE) from 13 countries across the five African sub-regions showed an overall prevalence of 1.7% (95% CI 1.1, 2.6) with a statistically significant (P < 0.001) sub-group range of 0.0% (95% CI 0.0, 14.1) to 11.0% (95% CI 7.6, 15.7). Highest prevalences were observed in Eastern Africa (2.7%; 95% CI 1.4, 5.4) by sub-region and Sudan (49.6%; 95% 41.2, 58.1) by country. Another set of 42 studies on Echinococcus granulosus infections (EGI) in dogs from 14 countries across the five African sub-regions revealed an overall prevalence of 16.9% (95% CI 12.7, 22.3) with a significant (P < 0.001) variation of 0.4 (95% CI 0.0, 5.9) to 35.8% (95% CI 25.4, 47.8) across sub-groups. Highest prevalences of E. granulosus were observed in North Africa (25.6%; 95% CI 20.4, 31.6) by sub-region and Libya (9.2%; 95% CI 5.7, 13.9) by country. CONCLUSION: Human cystic echinococcosis and EGI are respectively prevalent among Africans and African dogs. We recommend a holistic control approach that targets humans, livestock, dogs and the environment, which all play roles in disease transmission. This approach should involve strategic use of anthelminthics in animals, standardized veterinary meat inspection in abattoirs, control of stray dogs to reduce environmental contamination and proper environmental sanitation. Mass screening of humans in hyper-endemic regions will also encourage early detection and treatment.

Prevalence of salmonella infection in dogs in maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria.

The prevalence and antimicrobial sensitivity of Salmonella from dogs in Maiduguri Metropolis were determined using standard bacteriological methods to assess the risk of possible transmission of Salmonella infection from dogs to humans. Of 119 samples, Salmonella was isolated from 52 (43.7%). Males had higher prevalence of 50.0% compared with 34.7% in females (P < 0.05). Dogs older than 24 months had higher prevalence of 61.0% and the lowest was seen in dogs aged 13-24 months (P < 0.05). The prevalence of 31.8%, 41.2%, and 58.8% was observed in dogs aged 3-6, 10-12, and 7-9 months, respectively. High prevalence of 49.5% was observed in Mongrels, while Terrier and Alsatian breeds had 30.0% and 8.3%, respectively. Salmonella isolates from Alsatian and Terrier breeds showed about 100% susceptibility to all the tested antimicrobials. Higher percentage of the Salmonella isolates from Mongrels also showed susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (89.7%), amoxicillin (87.6%), vancomycin (86.6%), and chloramphenicol (84.5%). However about 50% of these isolates showed resistance to ofloxacin. The carrier status of Salmonella is high among dogs especially Mongrels. Therefore good environmental hygiene, discouraging straying coupled with feeding of dogs with properly cooked and uncontaminated feeds was recommended to mitigate risk of human salmonellosis.