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IntroductionAntimicrobial resistance is increasingly becoming a global health concern. This study aimed to investigate and report MDR Escherichia coli (E. coli) prevalence, resistance, and virulence genes from poultry in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.MethodsThe samples were analyzed using microbiological standard methods and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).ResultsA total of 179 cloacal swabs were collected from bothlocal and exotic poultry breeds, of which 99.4% (178/179) tested positive for E. coli. Among these culturally identified samples, 99.4% (177/178) were furtherconfirmed Escherichia coli with a molecular weight of 401 bp. Multidrugresistance of 45% (80/178) was observed from the confirmed isolates. PCR assays were conducted to detect genes associated with resistance to antibiotics, specifically, tetracycline (tetA gene), sulfonamide (sul1 gene), ampicillin (ampC gene), and quinolone (gyrA gene). Antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) results revealed substantial antibiotic resistance, with 81.9% (145/177) of the isolates being resistant to tetracycline, 80.2% (142/177) to quinolone, 69.5% (123/177) to sulfonamide, and 66.1% (117/177) to ampicillin. Further analysis on 18 isolates that showed resistance to up to four different antibiotics was carried out using multiplex PCR to detect eae, hlyA, rfbE, fliC, and fstx virulence genes. The study found that 44.4% (15/18) of the isolates were positive for the eae gene, 27.7% (5/18) for stx, 22.2% (4/18) for rfbe gene, and 5.5% (1) for hlya gene, and none tested positive for fliC gene.ConclusionThese results showed high antibiotic resistance, virulent genes, and significant levels of MDR in E. coli from poultry. This study highlights the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship practices within the poultry industry due to their profound implications for food safety and public health. This issue is particularly critical in Nigeria, where poultry farming constitutes a significant portion of smallholder farming practices.

Bovine papillomavirus (BPV) induces benign tumors of cutaneous or mucosa epithelia, called papillomas or warts in cattle and generally regress without eliciting any serious clinical problems in the host, but occasionally persist and provide the focus for malignant transformation to squamous cell carcinoma. This has a negative implication in beef and hide industry. There is paucity of information on the comparative pathology and molecular detection of BPVs in different breeds of nomadic cattle. Consequently, 340 nomadic cattle grazing in Plateau state Nigeria were screened clinically for papillomatosis followed by histopathology. Lesion consistent with papillomatosis were further investigated using immunohistochemistry (IHC), Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and electron microscopy. Twenty cattle (0.06%) of Friesian, Zebu, Muturu and White Fulani breeds had cutaneous papilloma and skin lesions of the head, neck, shoulders, legs, dorsum, lower abdomen and scrotum. However, only 16 (0.05%) cattle skin biopsy samples were consistent with papillomatosis histopathologically revealing varying degrees of hyperplastic epidermis with acanthosis and orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis. Nuclei in the granular layer of the epidermis were IHC positive for Bovine papillomavirus type I antigen while skin biopsy was BPV-1 E5 oncoprotein gene positive by PCR. Electron microscopy revealed ultrastructural changes consistent with Bovine papillomavirus infection. The distribution and severity of lesion varied in different breeds of nomadic cattle. The detection, diagnosis and characterization of papillomavirus in these cattle enabled the development of autogenous vaccine to immunized cattle. This study highlighted the comparative pathology and molecular characterization of BPVs in different breeds of nomadic cattle, which hitherto was lacking.

Lumpy Skin disease (LSD) is an economically important disease in cattle caused by the LSD virus (LSDV) of the genus Capripoxvirus, while pseudocowpox (PCP) is a widely distributed zoonotic cattle disease caused by the PCP virus (PCPV) of the genus Parapoxvirus. Though both viral pox infections are reportedly present in Nigeria, similarities in their clinical presentation and limited access to laboratories often lead to misdiagnosis in the field. This study investigated suspected LSD outbreaks in organized and transhumance cattle herds in Nigeria in 2020. A total of 42 scab/skin biopsy samples were collected from 16 outbreaks of suspected LSD in five northern States of Nigeria. The samples were analyzed using a high-resolution multiplex melting (HRM) assay to differentiate poxviruses belonging to Orthopoxvirus, Capripoxvirus, and Parapoxvirus genera. LSDV was characterized using four gene segments, namely the RNA polymerase 30 kDa subunit (RPO30), G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), the extracellular enveloped virus (EEV) glycoprotein and CaPV homolog of the variola virus B22R. Likewise, the partial B2L gene of PCPV was also analyzed. Nineteen samples (45.2%) were positive according to the HRM assay for LSDV, and five (11.9%) were co-infected with LSDV and PCPV. The multiple sequence alignments of the GPCR, EEV, and B22R showed 100% similarity among the Nigerian LSDV samples, unlike the RPO30 phylogeny, which showed two clusters. Some of the Nigerian LSDVs clustered within LSDV SG II were with commonly circulating LSDV field isolates in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, while the remaining Nigerian LSDVs produced a unique sub-group. The B2L sequences of Nigerian PCPVs were 100% identical and clustered within the PCPV group containing cattle/Reindeer isolates, close to PCPVs from Zambia and Botswana. The results show the diversity of Nigerian LSDV strains. This paper also reports the first documented co-infection of LSDV and PCPV in Nigeria.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become the most far-reaching public health crisis of modern times. Several efforts are underway to unravel its root cause as well as to proffer adequate preventive or inhibitive measures. Zoonotic spillover of the causative virus from an animal reservoir to the human population is being studied as the most likely event leading to the pandemic. Consequently, it is important to consider viral evolution and the process of spread within zoonotic anthropogenic transmission cycles as a global public health impact. The diverse routes of interspecies transmission of SARS-CoV-2 offer great potential for a future reservoir of pandemic viruses evolving from the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic circulation. To mitigate possible future infectious disease outbreaks in Africa and elsewhere, there is an urgent need for adequate global surveillance, prevention, and control measures that must include a focus on known and novel emerging zoonotic pathogens through a one health approach. Human immunization efforts should be approached equally through the transfer of cutting-edge technology for vaccine manufacturing throughout the world to ensure global public health and one health.

COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease with devastating economic and public health impacts globally. Being a novel disease, current research is focused on a clearer understanding of the mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis and viable therapeutic strategies. Oxidative stress and inflammation are intertwined processes that play roles in disease progression and response to therapy via interference with multiple signaling pathways. The redox status of a host cell is an important factor in viral entry due to the unique conditions required for the conformational changes that ensure the binding and entry of a virus into the host cell. Upon entry into the airways, viral replication occurs and the innate immune system responds by activating macrophage and dendritic cells which contribute to inflammation. This review examines available literature and proposes mechanisms by which oxidative stress and inflammation could contribute to COVID-19 pathogenesis. Further, certain antioxidants currently undergoing some form of trial in COVID-19 patients and the corresponding required research gaps are highlighted to show how targeting oxidative stress and inflammation could ameliorate COVID-19 severity.

We report cases of Armillifer Armillatus infestation in three Nigerian adults within two and half years in our health facility. The first patient was a 70 year old farmer and a regular consumer of snake meat for over 50 years. He presented in February, 2014 for follow-up visit as he was a known systemic hypertensive patient. He was incidentally discovered to have multiple comma-shaped calcific lesions in the lungs and liver on a chest radiograph. These were better demonstrated on abdominal ultrasound and computed tomographic scans. He was asymptomatic. The second patient was a 42 year old male civil servant who presented in December 2015 with dry cough and right loin pain for five and three days respectively. His past medical history revealed that he had been treated previously for pneumonia. He has never eaten snake meat but consumed Alligator (Amphibious reptile) for many years but stopped about 12 years ago. Similar calcific lesions were also noted in his liver and lung parenchyma on chest radiograph and abdominal ultrasound scan. The third patient was an 80 year old man who presented in April, 2014 with dizziness and diminished urine output of one day duration. He was a farmer who has been consuming snake meat for many years, and has been on management for systemic arterial hypertension and prostatic hypertrophy. Chest radiograph and abdomino-pelvic ultrasound incidentally revealed multiple comma-shaped calcific lesions in the lungs and liver. The liver function test parameters were all within normal limits but the electrolytes were deranged and he was anaemic with a Packed Cell Volume of 27%. A diagnosis of Armillifer Armillatus infestation was made in these patients, and they were conservatively managed with Mebendazole. The third case was catherized and the deranged electrolytes were corrected. The first patient was lost to follow-up, whiles the second and third had no remarkable symptoms on subsequent follow-up visits.

The 2013-15 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in West Africa had similar nuances with the 1976 outbreaks in Central Africa; both were caused by the Zaire Ebola Virus strain and originated from rural forested communities. The definitive reservoir host of Ebola virus still remains unknown till date. However, from ecological perspective, it is known that the virus first emerged from forest ecotypes interfacing with human activities. As at March 2015, the outbreak has claimed over 9000, which is unprecedented. Though it remains unproved, the primary sources of infection for past and present outbreaks are forest dwelling, human-hunted fauna. Understanding the ecological factors at play in these forest ecotypes where wild fauna interface with human and causing pathogen spill over is important. A broad based One Health approach incorporating these ecological concepts in the control of Ebola Virus Disease caneffectively ameliorate or forestall infection now and in the future.

INTRODUCTION: The advent of HPAI in Nigeria was a traumatic experience for the poultry industry. Wealth and resources were lost to the ravages of the virus. The Government of Nigeria with the support of International donor agencies came up with a policy for the prevention of spread of the disease leading to the eventual control and eradication of the virus in Nigeria. The various measures implemented in the control of the outbreaks, and their effects on eradication of the virus in the country are highlighted. METHODS: Using combined data from passive and active surveillance for HPAI in poultry farms, wetlands and live bird markets in Nigeria during 2006 - 2009, with laboratory diagnostic findings, we describe the characteristics of the control strategies implemented. The control measures include immediate reports of suspected outbreaks, prompt laboratory confirmation and rapid modified stamping out with compensations paid to affected farmers. Decontamination of infected farm premises, re-organization of live bird market were carried out, and bio security measures put in place before re-stocking. RESULTS: Three years following initial outbreak, the number of laboratory confirmed cases drastically reduced from 140 in 2006 and 160 in 2007 to only 2 cases of field outbreak in 2008. Only one case of human infection was documented during the period and no field outbreak or detection by surveillance was reported throughout 2009 and 2010. CONCLUSION: The measures employed by the Government through its agencies in the control of HPAI in Nigeria brought the incidence of the disease to naught.