A serological survey of Brucella antibodies was carried out in Jigawa State, northwestern Nigeria to determine the prevalence of the disease and risk factors among some pastoralist cattle herds. A total of 570 cattle of different ages and sexes selected from 20 herds across the four agroecological zones in the state were screened using Rose Bengal Plate test and competitive enzyme immunoassay. From the results 23 cattle (4.04%) were positive by Rose Bengal Plate Test while 22(3.86%) were positive with competitive enzyme immunoassay. The infection rate was higher in females than males. Cattle older than 3 years had a higher prevalence rate compared to age groups 2-3 years, 1-2 years, and less than 1 year. The prevalence rate was higher in cattle densely populated locations. Infection rate differs between herds with larger herds presenting high prevalence due to poor sanitary practice. It is hereby recommended that public enlightenment on adequate control and preventive measures using proper sanitary practice and calf hood vaccination are required.

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Tuberculosis (TB) is recognized as the most important threat to human and animal health causing morbidity, mortality, and economic losses. A study was conducted to assess the epidemiology and zoonotic implications of TB in two states of northeastern Nigeria, using abattoir surveillance, culture, and molecular typing methods. The human sputum of in-patients from selected hospitals within the study areas was also collected, cultured, and subjected to molecular typing. Out of the 250 human sputa collected, 74 (29.6%) were positive for culture and 40(16%) were positive on Bioline® analysis. Also, of the 200 tissues collected, 62(32.5%) were AFB positive and 25(12.5%) were positive on culture and 18(9.0%) were positive on Bioline® analysis. All positive isolates on Bioline® analyses were further subjected to Genotype® MBTC analysis. A total of (n = 58) isolates; sputum (n=40) and tissue (n=18), identified as MBTC were further subjected to Genotype MBTC® Hain assay PCR analysis. in order to differentiate them into their various species. Of the MBTC isolates from the tissues, 8(4.0%) were found to be Mycobacterium bovis, 5(2.5%) were Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the remaining 5(2.5%) were unidentified using the standard banding patterns. The 40 MBTC from sputum showed 30 (75%) as Mycobacterium tuberculosis 6(15%) were Mycobacterium bovis, 3(7.5%) were Mycobacterium africanum and 1(0.4%) was unidentified using the standard banding patterns. In conclusion, the study revealed the public health importance of bTB in the study area. There is also the need for public health awareness programs on the zoonotic nature of bTB among the abattoir workers and the herdsmen.

Background This study attempts to review the role of slaughter facilities management of all zoonotic diseases encountered at the abattoirs as well as the safety of meat produced for public consumption in abattoirs in Nigeria. Good hygienic practices were totally absent in the abattoirs. There were dilapidated slaughtering and processing facilities, inadequate clean water supplies, no refrigerators and lack of facilities for the collection and storage of waste. Zoonotic agents demonstrated in slaughtered animals in Nigeria include Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, Leptospira species, Campylobacter species, Yersinia species, Clostridia species., Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis, Brucella suis, and Salmonella spp. Other disease-causing infectious agents encountered at the abattoirs include Echerichia coli O157, Salmonella and Campylobacter species. The meat transportation is done by motor bike, wheel barrows and open vehicles and this become sources of physical contamination. Main Body Animals were not being examined regularly before or after slaughter, offals were washed with drainage water, effluent from drainage systems and that meat and organs cleaned from such drainages were sold to the public, leading to unsafe meat being released for public consumption. Meat and carcasses were conveyed out of the abattoir using unhygienic means of transport. Butchers and many abattoir workers were observed not using protective clothing during operations. Waste disposal was indiscriminate not regularly carried out which was hazardous to the environment, while the authorities concerned were not making any effort to improve the situation. Diseases such as Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, Fasciolosis, Tuberculosis and Helminthoses were most frequently encountered some of the diseases were of public health and economic importance. Conclusion Meat Inspection and hygiene Act shall be enacted and signed into law. Provision of waste disposal system such as incinerators are recommended. The drainage system should be upgraded and modernized. Use of abattoir waste as a manure and the slurry as fertilizer is also recommended. In Nigeria none of the abattoirs met the minimum hygienic standard of operation as recommended by the Codex Alimentarius and they could not have supported the production of safe meat and meat products for human consumption.

The test and slaughter policy of the federal government of Nigeria on contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in cattle is no longer feasible because it lacked the political will as a result, farmers tend to treat their cattle of the disease most which has been ineffective. herefore, the quest for a supportive clinical management protocol for CBPP in cattle aimed at enabling the cow regain its body condition in order to allow the farmer sell the cow for slaughter at a profit was the aim of this case report. A 6-year-old Bunaji cow weighing 350kg with history of not feeding well, lagging behind during grazing, difficulty in breathing, intermittent cough and bloat was presented. Physical examination was carried out and differential diagnoses which included contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, mango choke, Pasteurellosis and tuberculosis were considered. After a careful scrutiny of the differentials, a tentative diagnosis of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia which was confirmed by the Latex agglutination test (LAT) was arrived at. A supportive clinical management protocol was instituted with the sole aim of enabling the cow regain its body condition in order to allow the farmer sell the cow for slaughter at a profit. The protocol involved isolation of the cow and administration of 20% tetracycline long acting through a combination of conventional (intra-muscular) and non-conventional (intra-venous) routes of administration along with an anti-inflammatory agent and an appetite stimulant. Six days after the commencement of therapy, the observed clinical signs subsided greatly and the cow became apparently healthy. The study showed that, the protocol of administering 20%tetracycline long acting through a combination of conventional (intra-muscular) and nonconventional (intra-venous) routes along with an anti-inflammatory agent (dexamethasone) and an appetite stimulant (vit. B. complex) was effective and profitable to the farmer. The client was advised to sell the cow for slaughter after observing the 21- day withdrawal period of the drugs.