Occurrence of tuberculosis and predictors of zoonotic TB transmission among livestock workers in Lafia, Nigeria

Although tuberculosis (TB) is prevalent in domestic animals and man in Nigeria, prevalence and zoonotic tuberculosis (ZTB) predictors information among livestock workers in Lafia, is scarce. This study determined TB prevalence and ZTB predictors among livestock workers in the town.In a cross-sectional study, sputum samples from 96 participants selected by systematic random sampling (56 abattoir workers and 40 cattle herdsmen and marketers), to whom semi-structured questionnaire was issued, were tested with Ziehl Neelson stain. Data generated were analysed with STATA 12 and OpenEpi at 0.05 critical value (α). From the 96 samples, 13.54% prevalence was recorded. Awareness of ZTB was 60.42% and logistic regression analysis showed good knowledge of ZTB as the predictor (OR=62.89, 95% CI=7.19-549.69, P=0.000). Similarly, ZTB knowledge was 37.50% and the significant predictors were being old (OR=22.09, 95% CI=1.11-13.38, P=0.034); well aware (OR=22.09, 95% CI=2.61-187.27, P=0.005) and good practices (OR=4.78, 95% CI=1.39-16.60) towards ZTB. Thirty-four percent of the respondents engaged in good practices preventing ZTB exposure with the predictors being: an abattoir worker (OR = 3.03, 95% CI=1.04-9.09, P=0.042) and having ZTB good knowledge (OR=4.36, 95% CI=1.33-14.22, P=0.015). Tuberculosis was prevalent among the participants and they need enlightenment on ZTB transmission since they lacked good knowledge, attitudes and practices that prevent it. Keywords: Knowledge, Practices, Predictors, Prevalence, Tuberculosis

Recurrent Encephalopathy with Transverse Myelitis: An Uncommon Presentation of Neurobrucellosis

Brucellosis (malta fever) is a zoonotic infection caused by a gram-negative coccobacillus which is a facultative intracellular pathogen. It causes a chronic granulomatous infection, similar in histology to tuberculosis. Brucellosis remains a diagnostic dilemma due to misleading, nonspecific manifestations and increasing trend of unusual presentations. In brucellosis, the nervous system involvement occurs in only 5 to 7% of untreated patients, and it may manifest with encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, radiculitis, and peripheral and cranial neuropathies. Transverse myelitis is an unusual occurrence. Here, the authors are reporting an unusual case of neurobrucellosis in an elderly male patient who visited multiple hospitals with recurring febrile encephalopathy and paraparesis. The diagnosis was suspected by his occupational history of working as an abattoir worker and was confirmed by the presence of high titers of Brucella immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG antibodies in the serum. The patient was managed with injection gentamicin for 2 weeks along with oral course of doxycycline and rifampicin for 6 weeks. He made a good clinical recovery and went back to work with mild residual deficits.

Streptococcus gallinaceus bacteraemia in an abattoir worker presenting with a febrile illness

Streptococcus gallinaceus is a newly described species of viridans streptococci, previously only identified as causing disease in broiler chickens. This organism was recovered in pure culture from blood taken from a New Zealand abattoir worker presenting with a febrile illness. This first report of bacteraemia caused by S. gallinaceus in a human may help the understanding of the ecology of this recently described organism.