Incidence of foetal wastage in goats in Umuahia, Abia state Nigeria

This study investigated the indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant goats and the incidence of foetal wastage at Ahiaeke goat slaughter slab in Umuahia, Abia State for a period of 7 months (March – September 2018). A total of 518 goats were slaughtered during the period of study comprising 311 (60.03 %) males and 207 (39.96 %) females. The study revealed that majority (76%) of the goats slaughtered within the study period were not inspected ante mortem while only 24% of the total goats were inspected prior to slaughter. In the course of the investigation, it was observed that out of the 207 does slaughtered, 130 (62.80%) does were pregnant while 77 (37.19%) were not. A total of 182 foetuses (109 males and 73 females) were recovered from the 130 pregnant does slaughtered. The highest number of slaughtered pregnant does was recorded during the traditional festive season, in August, resulting in high percentage (21.41%) of foetal wastage during the study. Averagely, a monthly slaughter of 30 (14.31 %) gravid does was obtained. The slightly high rate of foetal wastage recorded in this study may be due to the very low coverage of ante-mortem inspection. Given the findings from this study, it can be inferred that poor ante-mortem inspection, ignorance on the part of farmers, butchers, and policy makers on proper management of pregnant animals in markets/slaughter slabs may have contributed to the foetal wastage and the slaughter of pregnant does.

Occurrence of Multidrug Resistant Escherichia coli in Raw Meat and Cloaca Swabs in Poultry Processed in Slaughter Slabs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2020, in five large poultry slaughter slabs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Purposive sampling was used to select broilers and spent layers, from which meat and cloaca swabs were collected to determine the occurrence of multidrug resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli. Identification of isolates was done using API 20E, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed as per CLSI (2018) guidelines. EBSL (CTX-M, TEM, SHV) and plasmid mediated quinolone (qnrA, qnrB, qnrS and aac(6′)-Ib-cr) were screened using PCR. Out of 384 samples, 212 (55.2%) were positive for E. coli, of which 147 (69.3%) were resistant to multiple drugs (MDR). Highest resistance was detected to tetracycline (91.9%), followed by sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (80.5%), ampicillin (70.9%), ciprofloxacin (40.2%) and 25% cefotaxime, gentamycin (10.8%) and imipenem (8.6%) (95% CI, p < 0.01). Out of the E. coli-positive samples, ten (10/212) (4.7%) were ESBL producing E. coli, of which CTX-M was detected in two isolates and quinolones resistant gene (qnrS) in eight, while TEM, SHV, qnrA, qnrB and aac(6′)-lb-cr were not detected. The high level of resistance and multidrug resistance imply these antibiotics are ineffective, add unnecessary cost to poultry farmers and certainly facilitate emergence and spread of resistance.

THE SALVAGE OF BOVINE FOETUSES IN SLAUGHTERED CATTLE WITHIN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Bovine fetuses recovered from abattoirs and slaughter slabs in Ogun State were previously discarded. Recently, a total of 327 skins of fetuses in the third trimester were tanned to produce leather for the manufacture of 439 pairs of shoes which yielded a revenue of N33,124 for the State Government. The skins of foetuses in both the first and second trimesters were used in the manufacture of local drums. Foetal carcases were processed as pet foods by dog and cat owners. Some foetal tissues could be preserved for use in the laboratories for research purposes. Such utilization of foetus has reduced losses which they brought about when there was no need for them.

Seroprevalence of Dirofilaria in dogs in Kaduna and Zaria metropolises, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Dirofilaria is the parasite known to cause filariasis in animals and humans transmitted by mosquitoes. The study was aimed at determining the prevalence of dirofilaria dogs attending government based Veterinary clinics and at slaughters in Kaduna metropolis and Zaria. The diagnosis was based on the use of the Knotts techniques. Blood was collected from 30 animals each from 6 government based veterinary clinics and 45 each from 2 slaughter slabs in Kaduna metropolis and 90 from 1 slaughter slab in Zaria giving a total of 360 animals sampled from the period of October 2016- April 2017. At each collection unit, the animals were selected using systemic random sampling and the blood samples were examined using the Knotts technique. The results revealed a prevalence of 1.1% (4/360) dogs positive for blood dirofilaria parasite. This report on the status of dirofilaria infection in dogs in Kaduna and Zaria metropolis, Kaduna state suggests that dogs there is a decline in the incidence of the disease among dogs in the state. Key words: Seroprevalence, Dirofilaria, dogs, metropolis

Occurrence of Mutidrug Resistant Escherichia Coli in Raw Meat and Cloaca Swabs in Poultry Processed in Slaughter Slabs in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Background Increased prevalence of multiple drug resistant Escherichia coli in chicken meat indicates excessive use of antimicrobials in poultry production systems. We determined the occurrence of multiple drug resistant E. coli in raw meat and cloaca swabs in poultry processed in slaughter slabs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2020, in five large slaughter poultry slabs in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Purposive sampling was used to select broilers and spent layers, from which meat and cloaca swabs were collected. MacConkey agar was used to isolate E. coli and identification was done using API 20E. Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique was used in antimicrobial susceptibility testing and results were interpreted as per CLSI (2018) guidelines. EBSL (CTX- M) and plasmid mediated quinolone genes (qnr A, qnr B, qnr S and aac(6')-Ib-cr) were detected using PCR. Results Out of the 384 samples, 212 (55.2%) were positive for E. coli, of which 147(69.3%) were resistant to multiple drugs (MDR). Isolates were very highly resistant to tetracycline (91.9%), followed by sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (80.5%), ampicillin (70.9%), and moderately resistant to ciprofloxacin (40.2%) and 25% cefotaxime (CTX), but had low resistance to 10.8% gentamycin (CN) and 8.6% imipenem (IMP) (95% CI, P< 0.01). Ten (10/212) (4.7%) isolates were confirmed as extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) producing E. coli, and were all MDR. The MDR E coli strains were highly resistant to cefotaxime (100%), ampicillin (90%) and moderately resistant to tetracycline (40%) and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (40%) and ciprofloxacin, lowly resistant to imipenem (10%) but fully susceptible to gentamycin. Quinolones resistant genes were seen in 8 out of the 10 ESBL producers.Conclusion The high levels of resistance to the commonly used antibiotics in poultry production means these agents are ineffective, add unnecessary cost to farmers and facilitate emergence and spread of resistance. The uncontrolled disposal of waste, seen in all the poultry slabs, has the potential to contaminate the environment with MDR bacteria, with eventual spread to humans and animals and demands intensified surveillance. Advocacy for prudent use of antimicrobials cannot be underscored in poultry production systems, in Tanzania.

Porcine Cysticercosis Control in Western Kenya: The Interlink of Management Practices in Pig Farms and Meat Inspection Practice at Slaughter Slabs

This study assessed the management practices for controlling porcine cysticercosis (PC) on pig farms and in pork at the slaughter slabs in two counties (Busia and Kakamega) of Western Kenya. A total of 162 pig-rearing households at the farm level, 26 butcher owners, and 26 slaughter slab workers at the slaughter slab level were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the “Statistical Analysis System” (SAS) programme. Results indicated that the frequent management practices used at the farm level (p<0.05) were rearing pigs under free range (69.1%), latrine ownership by households (87.7%), and use of pit latrines (72.8%) in households. At the slaughter level (p<0.05), results of the butcher owners (76.9%) and slaughter slab workers (62.5%) revealed that meat inspection was not practiced adequately in the two areas of study. The results imply that slaughtered pigs for human consumption were not adequately inspected, and thus, the study recommends for implementation of effective pig management practices at the farm level and pork meat inspection at slaughter slabs to prevent PC infections and assure food safety along the pork value chain.

Serological assay for Trichinella antibodies in slaughtered pigs and predisposing factors to trichinellosis in backyard piggeries in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

Trichinellosis is a cosmopolitan zoonotic disease that affects a large array of mammals, birds and reptiles caused by the eating of raw or undercooked pork containing Trichinella larvae. In this study, 200 pigs slaughtered at abattoirs and slaughter slabs within Kaduna Metropolis were screened for antibodies to Trichinella excretory-secretory (E/S) antigen using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). An overall prevalence rate of 16% was established. Age of the pigs revealed an association with trichinellosis (p-value=0.001) with juvenile and adult pigs recording prevalence rates of 5% and 11% respectively. Sex of the animals showed no significant association with trichinellosis but the females had a higher prevalence of 9.5% compared to the 6.5% of the males who had a greater odds (O=1.083) compared to the females (O=0.950). The farm management practices: intensive (1%), semi-intensive (2.5%) and extensive (12.5%) recorded a significant relationship with trichinellosis (p-value=0.001). Sources of the pigs whether markets, backyard farms or inheritance was significantly associated with trichinellosis (p-value=0.00) with backyard farm having the highest prevalence of 7%. Poor rodents control program, presence of snakes around and within piggery, feeding of pigs with dead animals and leftovers, lack of knowledge of pork-borne diseases, allowing pigs to scavenge and interaction of the pigs with stray pigs were very important predisposing factors to trichinellosis in pig farms established from this research. The result of this work therefore, is ofpublic health importance because meat and meat products are considered very important sources of daily protein in-take in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria. Keywords: Antibodies; ELISA; Kaduna Metropolis; Nigeria; trichinella; trichinellosis; predisposing factors; farm management.