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Peste des petit ruminants virus (PPRv) and Mannheimia haemolytica have been commonly implicated in naturally occurring pneumonia in sub-Saharan Africa and account for huge economic losses as they are associated with high morbidity and mortality. The Nigerian 75/1 PPR vaccine has been proven to be efficacious in the control of PPR. However, there is a paucity of information on the ability of this live attenuated vaccine to modulate bacteria of the nasal flora to control or confer protection against secondary bacterial infection induced especially by M. haemolytica. Nasal swabs and blood samples were collected for bacterial count and serology respectively. This study describes the effect of the N/75/1 PPR vaccine on the nasal bacteria flora and clinical indices of Red Sokoto goats. Ten (10) Red Sokoto goats were divided into two groups of five animals each. In one group, 1ml of PPR vaccine (2.5 TCID50) was administered subcutaneously while the other group served as control and 1ml of normal saline was administered subcutaneously. The results showed that for the PPR vaccinated group, although there was a significant decrease (p=0.05) in nasal bacteria counts for Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida and Escherichia coli compared to the control group it was not sufficient to clear out these potentially pathogenic bacteria from the nasal flora. Also, in the PPR-vaccinated group, the only clinical symptom observed was a mild transient and self-limiting hyperthermia at about 2 weeks post-vaccination which may be attributed to the initiation and enhancement of immune responses. Hence, it can be deduced that the PPR vaccine may moderately inhibit the colonization of certain pathogenic bacteria of the nasal microbial flora but however, it is incapable of conferring total immunity against the secondary bacterial infection in naturally occurring pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swine respiratory diseases particularly enzootic pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhyo) constitutes a significant health problem to pig production in many countries. However, the impact has been underestimated in Nigeria. This study therefore, retrospectively analyzed swine respiratory diseases and the associated pulmonary histopathology. Postmortem records and archival lung samples were obtained from the Departments of Veterinary Pathology University of Ibadan, Ibadan and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. A total of 98 pig carcasses were presented for necropsy during the period between 2005 and 2017. The diseases presumptively diagnosed using gross morphological criteria were extracted from the postmortem records while, 21 formalin-fixed archival lung samples were used for histopathology and immunohistochemistry using standard techniques. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics while Chi Square was used to test for association between different variables and pulmonary lesions at a0.05. In this study, respiratory diseases had a prevalence of 56.1% with enzootic pneumonia as the most frequently diagnosed at postmortem (49%, 48/98). Only age was identified to be a significant (P = 0.019) predisposing factor in the development of respiratory diseases. Microscopically, hyperplasia of bronchus associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) with formation of lymphoid nodules and thickening of alveolar septa were the most significant changes (38.1%, 8/21). Immunohistochemically, M. hyopneumoniae antigen was detected in 13/21 (61.9%) of the lung samples and were immunolabelled as granular brown reactions on the luminal surfaces of bronchial and bronchiolar epithelial cells and intraluminal cellular exudates within the airways. The histopathological findings and the detection of M. hyopneumoniae antigen indicated that the organism is primarily involved in the development of enzootic pneumonia in naturally infected pigs and may be central in the pathogenesis. It is concluded that enzootic pneumonia is a serious health issue in pigs in the study area and needs urgent attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on canine respiratory diseases are scant in the literature especially in Africa, unlike the situation on ruminants. This study is on the pathology and bronchoalveolar cellular and oxidative stress changes in naturally occurring canine pneumonia in Nigeria. The dogs used were collected from cases submitted for necropsy in the institutional Department of Veterinary Pathology. Gross examination, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology, oxidative biochemical assay of BAL fluid (BALf) supernatant and histology of sections from all the lung lobes were done using standard procedures. Grossly, 22 (31%) were normal while 48 (69%) were congested, haemorrhagic and/or pneumonic out of the 70 canine lungs examined. Microscopically, there were pulmonary congestion (4%), pulmonary oedema (20%), pulmonary haemorrhages (7%), atelectasis (4%), interstitial pneumonia (10%), bronchointerstitial pneumonia (14%) and bronchopneumonia (9%). The BALf cytology of pneumonic lungs showed increases in neutrophils, alveolar macrophages, lymphocytes and haemosiderophages including free and phagocytosed bacteria, and fungal hyphae. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione transferase (GST) activities increased in congested and bronchointerstitial pneumonic lungs but were reduced in other pneumonic lungs. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly reduced in the pneumonic canine lungs. Hydrogen peroxide generation increased in congestion and oedema, bronchopneumonia and bronchointerstitial pneumonia. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level increased in other congested and pneumonic lungs. There was also significant positive correlation of BALf pro-oxidant assay to the type and severity of pneumonia (+ 0.75, P < 0.05). Pneumonias account for 57.2% of the respiratory conditions of which bronchointerstitial and interstitial pneumonias are the prevalent types. The study also showed that oxidative stress markers in BALf may serve as predictors of pneumonia especially in the early stages. Since treatment recommendations for pneumonia often centre primarily on supportive care and anti-oxidant and antibiotic administration, further studies on causal agents, treatment and prevention strategies for canine pneumonia in Nigeria are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this study was to test the pathogenicity of Mycoplasma bovis isolated from cases of clinical mastitis in cattle in some states of Nigeria. Pathogenicity study of Mycoplasma bovis was carried out using five New Zealand White lactating rabbits, obtained from a local breeder in Ibadan, Nigeria. The left mammary glands of each rabbit were inoculated intracisternally with 1ml of 2.4 x 105 cfu/ml of Mycoplasma bovis obtained from cases of clinical mastitis in Nigeria. The right mammary glands served as control and received 1 ml of sterile Tryptose Soy broth each. The clinical signs, post-mortem and histological findings were recorded. Clinically, the rabbits were weak and anorexic with mortalities. Grossly, lesions were observed in the spleens, lungs and the ovaries, while the mammary glands were atrophied. This clearly showed the septicaemic nature of the Mycoplasma bovis isolated from the clinical mastitis cases hence proper hygienic practices should be implemented during milking for public health reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastric ulceration has been identified as a significant problem affecting pigs worldwide causing economic losses and is of a welfare concern. Limited information was available on the awareness of farmers of gastric ulcers and the exposure of pigs to some identified predisposing factors. This study sought to fill this information gap. Methods: Data were collected from 148 registered pig farmers in 12 local government areas of Oyo state using structured questionnaires. On-site assessment of farms' facilities and management practices was observed to determine the level of exposure of pigs to known predisposing factors. Results: Most (84.5%) of the farmers were males with the majority (89.2%) being Christians. The scale of production was mostly (71%) between 50-150 pigs, while many (52.7%) had farming experience of over 5 years. Most (83.1%) of the farmers were aware of the occurrence of gastric ulcers in humans while only 23% were aware that pigs were affected. A high proportion (69%) of the farmers formulated their feeds based on their discretion while some (28.4%) used standard formula. A high proportion (62.2%) of farmers were utilizing mixed sized particles while 33.1% farmers were using finely grounded grains with most farmers (84%) feeding 1-2 times daily. Only 12.2% farmers evaluated water quality parameters with some (9.5%) sourcing water from streams. Farm design and facilities supported manual processes of feeding (100%), watering (60.8%) and sorting (85.8%). Restraints were mostly (96%) dependent on physical methods. Conclusion: This study showed that the awareness of gastric ulceration in pigs among farmers in the Oyo state was limited and pigs were consistently exposed to predisposing factors such as fine feed particles, unhygienic water, and stressful handling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report investigates an outbreak of coccidiosis in a rabbitry in Ibadan, Nigeria. The rabbits were raised in a commercial breeder rabbitry with a total stock of 700 rabbits. The duration of mortality was 5 days, with an average of 140 rabbits per day giving a total of 635 (85%) mortalities. Clinical signs, necropsy findings, cytological, Histopathological and confirmatory diagnosis were reported and discussed. This case report further showed that coccidiosis in rabbitry is still a serious problem which should be monitored and controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the first detection of human H3N2 influenza virus in Taiwanese pigs in 1970, infection of pigs with wholly human viruses has been known to occur in other parts of the world. These viruses, referred to as human-like H3N2 viruses, have been known to cause clinical and subclinical infections of swine populations. Due to the paucity and complete unavailability of information on transmission of influenza viruses from other species, especially humans, to swine in Nigeria and Ghana, respectively, this study was designed to investigate the presence and prevalence of a human strain of influenza A (H3N2) in swine populations at three locations in two cities within these two West African countries in January and February, 2014. Using stratified random technique, nasal swab specimens were collected from seventy-five (75) pigs at two locations in Ibadan, Nigeria and from fifty (50) pigs in Kumasi, Ghana. These specimens were tested directly by a sensitive Quantitative Solid Phase Antigen-detection Sandwich ELISA using anti-A/Brisbane/10/2007 haemagglutinin monoclonal antibody. Influenza virus A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2) was detected among pigs at the three study locations, with an aggregate prevalence of 4.0% for the two locations in Ibadan, Nigeria and also 4.0% for Kumasi, Ghana. Transmission of influenza viruses from other species to swine portends serious sinister prospects for genetic reassortment and evolvement of novel viruses. We therefore recommend that further studies should be carried out to investigate the presence of other circulating human and avian influenza viruses in swine populations in West Africa and also determine the extent of genetic reassortment of strains circulating among these pigs. This would provide an early warning system for detection of novel influenza viruses, which could have pandemic potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a global increase in morbidity and mortality due to zoonotic diseases hence there is a need to identify possible sources of infections to human population. This study assessed veterinarians' compliance with standard infection control practices (ICPs) for prevention of zoonosis in Nigeria., Methodology: A cross sectional survey of 320 veterinarians participating in the National Annual Conference of the Nigerian Veterinary Me ic Association was done in November, 2011 Characteristics related to compliance with standard infection control practices were assessed. Chi-square and logistic regression tests were done at 0.05 significant levels. More veterinarians (51.1% and 61.2%) did not comply with appropriate ICPs while carrying out medical procedures of necropsy and assisting in parturition. Those with longer years of practice (OR=0.42,95% CI=0.23-0.75) and with long working hours (OR=0.52, 95% CI=0.28-0.97) were less likely to comply with ICPS. Private practice veterinarians' were less likely than public practitioners to comply (OR=0.67, 95% CI = 0.15-0.69). Also veterinarians who had workplace IC policy were more likely than those without to be compliant with ICPs (OR=3.71, 95% CI = 1.87-7.37)., Conclusion: Future conferences can be used to advise veterinarians on the importance of implementing appropriate IC measures. Also infection prevention practices laws and policies should be enacted to encourage compliance by veterinarians.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the cellular and mucosal responses in the respiratory tract of Nigerian goats vaccinated intranasally with recombinant Mannheimia hemolytica bacterine. Twenty one goats were divided into five groups, five goats each in three vaccinated groups while three goats each in two other groups serve as positive and negative control. Group A was vaccinated once; group B was vaccinated twice at one week interval, and group D at twice at two weeks interval. Group C1 were the unvaccinated and challenged, while group C2 were unvaccinated and unchallenged. The bronchoalveolar lavage differential counts and bronchial associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) responses were measured using Giemsa stained thin smear of the cell fraction of the lavage and histomorphometry. ANOVA were employed and significance was at p&gt;0.05. The post-challenge macrophage to neutrophil (M:N) ratio values of group B goats was the highest and the ratio differed from other groups which had much lower M:N values. The exposure in group B resulted in significant increase in number and size of BALTs as well as the number of lymphocytes in BALT than those of the other groups. This study showed that intranasal vaccination of the recombinant Mannheimia hemolytica bacterine twice at a week interval was more efficient in inducing strong mucosal and defensive cellular responses in the respiratory tract.

Chicken anemia virus (CAV) was isolated for the first time from the Nigerian chicken population. The virus was recovered from necropsied birds from broiler and pullet flocks that suffered disease outbreaks tentatively diagnosed as infectious bursal disease. A sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay detected CAV DNA in tissues of necropsied birds. Restriction endonuclease analysis performed with the 733-bp PCR product and the Cfo I enzyme indicated at least two different CAVs were circulating among the Nigerian chicken population. Four isolates were obtained from pooled liver and thymus tissues using the MDCC-MSB1 cell line. These isolates were found to be antigenically closely related to the Cuxhaven-1 (Cux-1) reference strain of CAV when reacted with four monoclonal antibodies prepared against the Cux-1 virus. One of the isolates (isolate A) induced thymus atrophy, bone marrow aplasia, and low hematocrit values when inoculated into 1-day-old specific-pathogen-free chickens. These findings not only demonstrate that CAV is present in Nigeria, but they also likely represent the first cell culture isolation of the virus in Africa.

Serum samples from 20 out of 180 (11.1%) apparently healthy Nigerian indigenous chickens were negative for antibodies against chicken anaemia virus using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Of the 160 positive sera (88.9%), 12 (7.5%) had titres ranging from 1500-3000, 46 (28.8%) had titres from 3000-5000 while 102 (63.8%) had titres between 5000-11000. The overall mean titre value was 5845 +/- 2402. This appears to be evidence of a natural outbreak of the infection since the chickens had no history of vaccination against any poultry disease.