Baseline Prevalence of Trachoma in 13 Local Government Areas of Borno State, Nigeria

PURPOSE

We set out to determine the baseline prevalence of trachoma in 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Borno State, Nigeria.

METHODS

A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in each of 13 LGAs from 2017 to 2019, with the support of Tropical Data (TD). World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended protocols were used. With a probability-proportional-to-size systematic sampling method, 25 villages were selected per LGA in 2017 and 30 villages per LGA in 2019; in each village, 25 households were enrolled for 2017 surveys, while 30 were enrolled for 2019 surveys. All present, consenting residents aged ≥1 year were examined by TD-certified graders for trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) and trachomatous trichiasis (TT) using the WHO simplified grading scheme. Additionally, we collected data on household-level access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities.

RESULTS

One LGA (Magumeri) had TF prevalence in 1-9-year-olds ≥10%; two other LGAs (Monguno and Kaga) had TF prevalence between 5.0% and 9.9%. The prevalence of TT unknown to the health system was ≥0.2% in six LGAs. The proportion of households with access to improved water sources ranged from 30% (Kwaya Kusar) to 95% (Monguno); household-level access to improved latrines was lowest in Shani (7%) and highest in Maiduguri (95%).

CONCLUSION

Active TT case finding and strengthening of TT surgical services are needed in six LGAs. Mass drug administration (MDA) of antibiotics is needed in three LGAs to reduce the prevalence of active trachoma to below elimination thresholds. The trachoma elimination programme should engage WASH agencies to augment access to improved WASH facilities.

evansi technique in Borno and Yobe states, Nigeria

Trypanosoma evansi is an important camel pathogen with dissimilar mammalian hosts and is the most widely distributed pathogenic animals' trypanosomes worldwide that affects domesticated animals. Four hundred and six blood samples were collected using homogeneous purposive sampling techniques from camels of all age groups (206 from Borno State and 200 from Yobe State, Nigeria). Each animal was examined and information on age and gender were recorded. The card agglutination test for T. evansi (CATT/T. evansi) was used to estimate the seroprevalence of T. evansi infection. The seroprevalence of T. evansi based on age and sex in Borno State, Nigeria was 38.83% (95% CI = 32.44%, 45.63%) in adult camels, whereas, the seroprevalence of T. evansi in young camels was significantly lower 2.91%, (95% CI = 1.34%, 6.20%), p < 0.05). The seroprevalence of T. evansi in male camels was estimated at 14.08% (95% CI = 9.99, 19.49) whereas, in female camels the seroprevalence was estimated at 27.67% (95% CI = 22.01%, 34.15%, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the seroprevalence of T. evansi in Yobe State, Nigeria in the adult camels was 27.50% (95% CI = 21.78%, 34.07%) whereas, the seroprevalence of T. evansi in young camels was 19.00%, (95% CI = 14.17%, 25.00%). The seroprevalence of T. evansi in male camels was 30.0% (95% CI = 24.07%, 36.68%), whereas, the seroprevalence of T. evansi in female camels was 16.5% (95% CI = 12.00%, 22.27%). Therefore, the present study aimed to provide information on the seroprevalence of T. evansi and the related risk factors in camels in Borno and Yobe States, Nigeria using CATT/T. evansi technique.

Serological survey for Brucella antibodies in donkeys of north-eastern Nigeria

A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted to determine seroprevalence and risk factors influencing the presence of Brucella antibodies in donkeys of Borno State, north-eastern Nigeria. The study aimed at providing baseline information that may be used in planning a control policy against equine brucellosis. Blood samples were collected from 601 donkeys, comprised of 374 males and 227 females from the six agricultural zones of the state between March 2013 and September 2014. The sera obtained were tested for Brucella antibodies using Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). Of the 601 donkeys tested, 43 (7.2%) and 40 (6.7%) were seropositive by RBPT and cELISA, respectively. A seroprevalence of 8.6% was obtained in male and 3.5% in female donkeys. According to age, the highest seroprevalence of 9.6% was obtained from donkeys of age group 4-6 years. With respect to pregnancy status, a higher seroprevalence (6.8%) was obtained from pregnant donkeys compared to 3.8% obtained from the non-pregnant ones. There were statistically significant associations between the presence of antibodies and sex (p < 0.05) and the presence of antibodies and age (p < 0.05) of the studied donkeys. However, no statistically significant association (p > 0.05) was observed between the pregnancy status and presence of antibodies. The study concludes that Brucella infection is present in donkeys in all the agricultural zones of the state. The relatively high seroprevalence (7.2%) obtained is of public health concern because of the close interaction between donkeys, ruminants, and humans in the study area.