No abstract

This study aimed at determining the possible exposure of wild birds to avian influenza (AI), infectious bronchitis (IB) and Newcastle disease (ND) viruses. Apparently healthy species of free flying wild birds were captured using locally-made baited traps set at strategic watering and feeding locations and in poultry farms. Few species of captive wild birds in households and live bird markets (LBMs) were also sampled. Sera from blood samples collected were analyzed for antibodies to AI, IB and ND viruses using enzyme linked immunorsorbent assay (ELISA). Out of the 209 sera analysed, Bubulcus ibis was 24%, 70% and 27% while Psittacus erithacus was 7%, 21% and 7% positive for antibodies to AI, IB and ND viruses, respectively. Branta canadensis, was 35% and 64% positive for antibodies to AI and IB viruses. Balearica regulorum and Numidia maleagris were 100% and 9% positive to AI virus antibodies. Free flying birds were 19 (15%), 57 (45%) and 27 (21%) positive while captive wild birds were 11%, 20% and 14% positive to AI, IB and ND viruses antibodies, respectively. The results of this study confirm that wild birds were exposed to AI, IB and ND viruses. There was co-exposure of some wild bird species to AI, IB and ND viruses. These birds could possibly serve as carriers and disseminators of AI, IB and ND to poultry. Therefore, control measures against these important poultry diseases should include incursion of wild birds.

Livestock is an important component of food security in many developing nations. However, animal diseases continue to undermine animal production and public health efforts thus widening poverty gap. Unfortunately, the conventional and what seems to be inefficient "top to bottom" disease surveillance and control policies are heavily relied upon such that negative impacts of diseases are underestimated. Participatory disease surveillance (PDS) techniques using semi-structured questioning assisted by key informants targeting focus groups were employed in 60 randomly selected villages of two Nigerian States during the years 2012 to 2014. Haemagglutination and ELISA tests to detect antibodies to Newcastle disease (ND) were conducted on 950 poultry sera. The status and economic burden of Newcastle disease and the relative livestock populations and some ethno-veterinary practices of these livestock farming communities were brought to the fore. Poultry, goats, cattle, sheep and pigs in descending order were the major livestock species kept in the study areas to which Kendalls Coefficient of Concordance (W = 0.9) agreed strongly. Accordingly, ND, lousiness, fowl pox and coccidiosis with percentage scores of ND-52%, Fowl Pox-31%, lousiness-17% and Salmonellosis-10% were important causes of poultry morbidity and mortality. ND sero-prevalence was 39%, relative morbidity; mortality and case fatality rates of 95%, 78% and 82% respectively were appraised. Again ND, coccidiosis, ectoparasitism and fowl pox were reported as seasonal poultry diseases (W = 0.6). Solanum nodiflorum and Momordica balsalmina were used to treat ND. Major livestock kept, and the ND status and effects in poultry in these livestock farming communities are here reported. Institutionalization of PDS would better * Corresponding author. W. I. Musa et al. 50 inform strategic livestock policy reforms, and improve national food security and diseases surveillance and reporting system in Nigeria.

No abstract

No abstract