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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.

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The major cattle management system observed in Soba Local Government Area was pastoral husbandry system. Under this system, cattle were extensively grazed on established forages of Kaduna State forests and were exposed to various arthropod vectors of haemoparasites. These haemoparasites are a serious threat to food security in Soba LGA due to their influence on cattle productivity. Questionnaires were used in assessing some farm management risk factors of contracting haemoparasitic infections in both pastoralist and sedentary herds in Soba LGA. A total of 24 herdsmen made up of 20 pastoralists and 4 sedentary herdsmen were interviewed. The study revealed, that some herd management practices were observed to have constituted risks to acquiring haemoparasitic infections in both pastoralist and sedentar y herds in the study area. For instance, vectors of haemoparasites such as ticks and biting flies aside Glossina were present in both pastoralist and sedentary herds in the study area. Some farm management practices such as screening of herds for haemoparasites, treatment of it once in 12 months and quarantining of new stock before adding to the existing herds were found not to be carried. Thus, constituted risk factors in the herds. This preliminary study, provided evidence of the possible arthropod vectors (ticks and biting flies) that may be involved in the transmission of haemoparasites to cattle in Soba LGA of Kaduna State. It is envisaged that this survey will stimulate more studies to determine the prevalence of haemoparasites in cattle in Soba LGA of Kaduna State.

Slaughter houses provide excellent avenues for detecting diseases of both economic and public health importance in livestock. A study of 12,429 slaughtered goats at the Bauchi central abattoir was carried out (from February to May, 2015) in order to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis-like lesions in slaughtered goats. The lesions were counted, visually examined and palpated during post mortem meat inspection. Of the 12,429 goats slaughtered and examined, tuberculosis-like lesions were observed in four (4) slaughtered goats with a prevalence of 0.03%. It was concluded that although the prevalence was relatively low, the financial losses and public health implications of the finding should not be over looked.