Epidemiology of thermotolerant Campylobacter infection in poultry in Nsukka agricultural zone, Nigeria

Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance in Campylobacter spp. Isolated from Humans and Food-Producing Animals in West Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Campylobacter species are one of the leading causes of gastroenteritis in humans. This review reports on the prevalence and antibiotic resistance data of Campylobacter spp. isolated from humans and food-producing animals in West Africa. A systematic search was carried out in five databases for original articles published between January 2000 and July 2021. Among 791 studies found, 38 original articles from seven (41%) out of the 17 countries in West Africa met the inclusion criteria. For studies conducted in food-producing animals, the overall pooled prevalence of Campylobacter spp. was 34% (95% CI: 25–45). The MDR prevalence was 59% (95% CI: 29–84) and half (50%, 13/26) of the animal studies had samples collected from the market. The human studies recorded a lower pooled prevalence of Campylobacter spp. (10%, 95% CI: 6–17), but a considerably higher rate of MDR prevalence (91%; 95% CI: 67–98). The majority (85%, 11/13) of the human studies took place in a hospital. Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli were the most common species isolated from both animals and humans. Our findings suggest that Campylobacter spp. is highly prevalent in West Africa. Therefore, improved farm hygiene and ‘One Health’ surveillance systems are needed to reduce transmission.

Epidemiology of gastrointestinal worm infections in pigs reared in Enugu State, Nigeria

Gastrointestinal worm infections (GWI) constrain pig production and zoonotic pig parasites make pork unsafe for human consumption. This study determined the distributions, determinants and dynamics of GWI and also the effect of the infection on production parameters in pigs reared in Enugu State, Nigeria. The GWI were determined by faecal egg counts following standard procedure. Sixty piggeries and 564 pigs were randomly selected for the study. Questionnaire survey was conducted to obtain data on some production parameters and risk practices aiding GWI in the piggeries. An overall prevalence of 88.3% (53/60) and 68.1% (384/564) at farm and individual pig levels respectively were recorded. High egg counts of single and mixed infections involving Strongyle, Ascaris and Trichuris species were found. The infection predominated in young (74.1%, 240/324) and female (72.3%, 272/376) pigs during the rainy/wet season (74.5%, 204/274). Rearing pigs of different ages together, feeding pigs with untreated abattoir/poultry waste, and unhygienic on-farm feed compounding were the major risk practices underpinning acquisition and spread of GWI. Infected piggeries had less litter weight and reduced mean weight at weaning and maturity. Pre-weaning piglet mortality was 15.5%. The seasonality and preponderance of the infection in young and female pigs are useful epidemiological findings which could be exploited for development of an effective control strategy against the parasitic infections. An overhaul of parasitic disease control measures in piggeries in Enugu State is imperative for greater productivity and profitability in swine production, and to boost availability of safe and wholesome pork for human consumption.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12639-021-01377-y.