Antibiotic prescription practices amongst veterinarians in Nigeria.

The high rate of antibiotic resistance constitutes a global threat to the continuous use of these drugs, because of increasing treatment failures. The aim of this study was to survey antibiotic prescription practices of veterinarians and the possible contribution to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in Nigeria during the COVID era. This was a cross-sectional study that used a 33-question survey questionnaire administered to registered veterinarians in Nigeria. The study was both online survey and hard copy administered during the annual meeting of the veterinarians from July to October 2021. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis using Chi-square test were also done to analyze the results, while a two-tailed P-value of <0.05 at 95% confidence level was considered statistically significant. IBM SPSS Version 26 was used to analyze the data. A total of 172 respondents completed the online and hard copy questionnaire. Majority of the respondents engaged majorly in mixed veterinary practice (72.1%). A total of 53.5% were aware of the country's policy concerning antibiotic prescription, while majority (64.5%) do not do culture and sensitivity before antibiotic prescription. Majority (34.3%) felt that the risk of potential adverse drug reaction could affect their decision when choosing to prescribe an antibiotic to the owner. Majority (51.2%) felt that some antibiotics were over prescribed, while 26.7% opined that all antibiotics were appropriately prescribed. To improve antibiotic use and practice amongst veterinarians in Nigeria, dependence on laboratory services for antibiotic prescription, enforcement of national guidelines and monitoring of antibiotic prescription amongst the veterinarians is essential to curb over-prescription and strengthen antimicrobial stewardship.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Brucella strains isolated from autochthonous livestock reveals the dominance of B. abortus biovar 3a in Nigeria.

Brucellosis is a worldwide widespread zoonosis caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. Control of this disease in a given area requires an understanding of the Brucella species circulating in livestock and humans. However, because of the difficulties intrinsic to Brucella isolation and typing, such data are scarce for resource-poor areas. The paucity of bacteriological data and the consequent imperfect epidemiological picture are particularly critical for Sahelian and Sub-Sahara African countries. Here, we report on the characterization of 34 isolates collected between 1976 and 2012 from cattle, sheep and horses in Nigeria. All isolates were identified as Brucella abortus by Bruce-ladder PCR and assigned to biovar 3 by conventional typing. Further analysis by enhanced AMOS-ERY PCR showed that all of them belonged to the 3a sub-biovar, and MLVA analysis grouped them in a cluster clearly distinct from that formed by European B. abortus biovar 3b strains. Nevertheless, MLVA detected heterogeneity within the Nigerian biovar 3a strains. The close genetic profiles of the isolates from cattle, sheep and horses, suggest that, at least in some parts of Nigeria, biovar 3a circulates among animal species that are not the preferential hosts of B. abortus. Consistent with previous genetic analyses of 7 strains from Ivory Cost, Gambia and Togo, the analysis of these 34 Nigerian strains supports the hypothesis that the B. abortus biovar 3a lineage is dominant in West African countries.

Detection of pathogenic Escherichia coli in samples collected at an abattoir in Zaria, Nigeria and at different points in the surrounding environment.

Pathogenic Escherichia coli can be released with the wastes coming from slaughterhouses into the environment, where they can persist. We investigated the presence of diarrheagenic E. coli in specimens taken at an abattoir located in the Zaria region, Nigeria, in samples of water from the river Koreye, where the effluent from the abattoir spills in, and vegetable specimens taken at a nearby farm. All the isolated E. coli were assayed for the production of Shiga toxins (Stx) by using the Ridascreen verotoxin Immunoassay and by PCR amplification of genes associated with the diarrheagenic E. coli. Three strains from the rectal content of two slaughtered animals and a cabbage were positive for the presence of the Stx-coding genes. Additionally we have isolated one Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAggEC) from the abattoir effluent and two Subtilase-producing E. coli from the slaughterhouse's effluent and a sample of carrots. Our results provide evidence that pathogenic E. coli can contaminate the environment as a result of the discharge into the environment of untreated abattoir effluent, representing a reservoir for STEC and other diarrheagenic E. coli favouring their spread to crops.