Assessment of Microbiological Quality Associated with Ready- to- Eat Bush Meat Sold at Rumuokoro Market in Rivers State

The study was carried out to investigate the Microbiological quality of microorganisms associated with ready-to-eat bush meat sold at Rumuokoro market in Rivers state. Totally 24 samples were collected and analyzed using different media such as Nutrient agar for Total aerobic plate count (TAPC), MacConkey agar for the coliform count, Eosin methylene blue for Escherichia coli (EC), and Potato Dextrose Agar for Fungal count (FC) and ten (10) fold serial dilution was used. Staphylococcus spp, Pseudomonas spp, Bacillus spp, and Escherichia coli were isolated. The total aerobic plate count (TAPC), E. coli count (EC)-Coliform count (CC), and Fungal count (FC) isolated from antelope were higher when compared to grass-cutter so there was a significant difference (P <0.005). The occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from antelope (26.9%) was higher when compared to grass- cutter (25.0%). However the occurrence of Pseudomonas spp and Bacillus spp isolated from Antelope (23.1% and 30.8%) were higher when compared to grass- cutter (12.5% and 18.5%) while the occurrence of the above organisms isolated on both Antelope is significantly difference (P<0.005) from grass cutter. But the occurrence of Aspergillus spp and Penicillium spp were higher in grass cutter sample (57.1%) and (42.9%) compared to antelope (55.6%) and (44.4%) respectively, although the mean difference was statistically significant (P<0.005) so there was significant difference. It is hereby recommended that most handlers should always wash hands before and after handling the meat as improper hand washing is the number one cause of food borne illness. Consumers of such meat should learn food hygiene practices such as, soaking the meat in warm salt solution, proper washing and well cooked before consumption.

Economic Contribution of Wildlife to Bushmeat Market in Ikire, Osun State, Nigeria

This paper assessed the economic contribution of wildlife to bushmeat market in Ikire, Osun State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire and in-depth interview of targeted respondents. Bush meat sellers in Irewole local government area, Ikire were sampled. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, budgetary analysis and likert scale analysis. The result showed that majority of the bushmeat sellers were females (55.9%) with a mean age of 41 years. Most of the bushmeat sellers strongly agreed (4.91±0.09) that they generate more income from bushmeat trade, 4.71±0.17 equally noted that customers prefer to purchase bushmeat than convectional meat type while 1.56±0.19 disagreed that seasonal change affects customer’s preferences for bushmeat in the markets. Also, 5.00±0.0, 4.82±0.13, 4.74±0.17 respectively believes that bushmeat are more delicious, better source of protein, more of medicinal value when compared with conventional meat type. Furthermore, an average of 3.70±0.2 had cultural sentiments for the consumption of bush meat. An average net profit per respondent yielded ₦3,565.53, while BCR and profitability index are 1.95 and 0.95 respectively. Conclusively, bushmeat trading is a profitable and very lucrative enterprise.

Environmental Concerns for Emergence and Reemergence of Novel Viral Infectious Diseases: Implications for SARS-CoV-2 and Other Pathogens

The existing COVID-19 pandemic is an anthropogenic disaster which looked inevitable, because despite repeated natural warnings no attention was paid to them. Recently many viral zoonotic infections – caused by SARS-CoV-1, Ebola and Nipah, to name a few – happened that became public health emergency. The most recently discovered zoonotic SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for the contemporary humanitarian disaster. When a virus undergoes zoonotic transmission, the humans begin to respond urgently to its testing and treatment, giving least attention to the actual cause behind the transmission. To prevent future outbreaks, and possible pandemics, it is indispensable to understand the reasons behind emergence of new infectious diseases in human beings. Some most likely reasons for emergence and reemergence of novel zoonotic infections include deforestation, land use change, wildlife trade, bush-meat consumption and rapid increase in international travel. This article attempts to explore and discuss the factors that trigger emergence and reemergence of novel infectious diseases, with special emphasis on SARS, in human beings.

Survey of meat preference within the working class of Oyo state, Nigeria: a case-study of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo

The study considered the meat preference within the working class of Oyo state using Emmanuel Alayande College of Education as a case study. The survey covered the three campuses of the College namely, Erelu, Isokun and Lanlate. A total of 50 structured questionnaires were administered in each of the three campuses, making 150 in all. Random sampling of the respondents was carried out covering both the senior and the junior staff. The result obtained shows a general preference for beef (31.33%). bush meat (24.66%), chevon (15.33%), chicken (13.33%), pork (10%) and mutton (5.33%) in reducing order of importance. Also, in terms of meat texture, 55.33% and 35.33% of the respondents preferred medium and soft meat respectively. The respondents also preferred fish (60.67%) to meat (39.33%) as their animal protein source. Frying (50%) was the preferred processing method, followed by boiling (36.66%) and smoking (13.33%). The meat cuts of preference to the respondents are thigh (37.33%). offals (18%), and, cow leg and skin (16.66%). However, majority (62%) of the respondents in the College surveyed had no knowledge of cholesterol.

Understanding bats as a host of different viruses and Nepal's vulnerability on bat viruses

Bats maintain and transmit many viruses (Filoviruses, Rubulaviruses, Henipaviruses, Lyssaviruses, and Coronaviruses etc.); most of them are pathogenic to human but bats act as reservoir host without causing any pathogenesis. Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a twenty-first-century awakening for the human world that signifies the zoonotic viral challenge. Bats fauna are suspected to originate viral outbreaks through solid evidence that is lacking worldwide. The bats like Pteropus giganteus, Rousettus leschenaultii, Eonycteris spealea, Rhinolophus sinicus, R. affinis, R. ferremequinum, Nyctalus noctula, and Scotophillus sp. are reported for viral evidence that are also extended to Nepal's geography. Bats bush-meat culture persist in Chepang community of Nepal indicates a high risk of a zoonotic viral outbreak in the future. Though Nepal has no evidence of any viral outbreak until the COVID-19 pandemic situation, precaution is warned for bat conservation and bat roost management to ensure bat virus safety.

Enteric Viruses and Bacterial Species from the Faecal Droppings of Bats in Selected Bat Colonies in Ondo State, Nigeria

Background: Pathogenic viruses and bacteria of bat origin causes a lot of diseases that often leads to epidemics and pandemics. Fruit bats were documented reservoir of many viral infections including COVID-19. This study was designed to detect the presence of some enteric viruses of gastroenteritis as well as bacterial species from Eidolon helvum bat species in Nigeria. Methodology: Twenty-five samples were collected between January and March 2018, from six different locations in Ondo State, Nigeria. The samples were tested for the presence of Rotavirus and Adenovirus antigens using the CerTest Biotech 4th generation Quadruple Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) kit according to the manufacturers’ specification. The bacterial species were isolated by pour plating and identified using standard microbiological methodsand API kits. Results: Throughout the period of this study, two samples (10%) were tested positive for both Norovirus and Adenovirus in bat fecal samples from Epinmin Akoko, Nigeria, while the isolated bacterial species from bats in Owo included Streptococcus Spp, Micrococcus Spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus Spp., Staphylococcus epidermidis, Salmonella typhi, Echerichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Acinetobacter iwoffi, Citrobacter freundii, Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus vulgaris, Enterobacter agglomerans and Proteus mirabillis. Conclusion: The isolation of these microbes are suggestive of infectious agents that can be of threat to public health and caution bush meat consumers from erratic consumption of unverified bush meat culinaries. The data obtained from this study is valuable for public health management as well as disease prevention and control

Heavy metals in Bushmeat from New-Bussa and its environs, Nigeria

Bushmeat have provided complimentary protein for human population across the world over the centuries. This study assessed the concentration of heavy metals in bushmeats in New Bussa and its environs. Three carcass of bush meat (Kobus kob (Kob), Tragelaphus scriptus (Bushbuck) and Sylvicapra grimmia (Duiker)) were sourced from the study area. The carcass was digested and concentrations of nine heavy metals (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni, Co and Cd) were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Results obtained for the heavy metal analysis were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) while Pearson’s correlation was used to determine the relationship in the samples. The heavy metal concentration in muscle tissues of the selected bushmeat revealed that zinc with 815.00±13.00 mg/kg in Kob was the highest mean value of all meat samples, followed by Iron (479.00±10.00 mg/kg) in Duiker while Pb level in Bushbuck 213.00±3.00 mg/kg is outrageously the highest. Copper, Chromium and Nickel did not exceed the permissible limits as set by FEPA/WHO. The concentration pattern of heavy metals in bush meat show that Sylvicapra grimmia and Tragelaphus scriptus had the same pattern of Zn>Fe>Pb>Cr>Mn>Cu>Co>Ni>Cd concentration while Kobus kob pattern of association is Zn>Fe>Cr>Pb>Ni>Cu>Co>Cd>Mn. The comparative study of the heavy metal concentrations revealed that Zinc (Zn) recorded the highest frequency, followed by Iron (Fe) and Lead (Pb). This study has shown that high level of Pb in the samples from the study area is a matter of concern in bush meat consumption in the study area; hence people should be warned of impending danger in the consumption of heavy metals contaminated bush meat. Keywords: Bushmeat, heavy metals, concentration, toxicity, contaminated