Analysis of Nsukka metropolitan abattoir solid waste and its bacterial contents in south eastern Nigeria: public health implication

Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae Count in Abattoir Wastes and Its Receiving Waters in Limbe Municipality, Cameroon: Public Health Implications

The release of untreated wastes from abattoirs into the environment and nearby water bodies poses a significant threat to public health. Such litters may contain pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study investigated 80 samples collected from butchering tables, slaughter slabs, meat rinsing points, and abattoir wastes receiving water from two abattoirs (A and B). Total Enterobacteriaceae count (TEC) for each sample was determined, and Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were isolated and identified. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done on all bacterial isolates against nine locally used antibiotics. Overall, 118 bacterial isolates, comprising E. coli (42.5%), Salmonella spp. (27.5%), Shigella spp. (37.5%), and S. aureus (40.0%), were recovered. Of the 118 bacterial isolates, 104 (88.1%) were multidrug-resistant, including 58 (55.8%) from abattoir A and 46 (44.2%) from abattoir B; however, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.6837). Of the 32 S. aureus isolates, 29 (90.6%) were multidrug-resistant. All S. aureus were 100% sensitive to vancomycin, kanamycin, and amikacin. Similarly, 31 (91.2%) of the 34 E. coli isolates recovered in this study were multidrug-resistant. Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. also showed high levels of multidrug resistance corresponding to 81.8% and 86.7%, respectively. All isolates of E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella were 100% resistant to ampicillin and 100% sensitive to ciprofloxacin. Minimum and maximum mean values for TEC were 3.62-5.83 log CFU/mL for abattoir A and 4.08-5.56 log CFU/mL for abattoir B. The highest and lowest TEC counts were from slaughter slab and upstream water, respectively, in each abattoir. Our results indicate a predominance of multidrug-resistant bacteria in abattoir wastes and their receiving waters in the study sites. Hence, we recommend the treatment of abattoir wastes before disposal and improved hygiene and sanitation practices to enhance public health.

Country-level assessment of agrifood waste and enabling environment for sustainable utilisation for bioenergy in Nigeria

It is essential to plug inefficiencies due to agrifood losses and wastes, which pose a significant threat to the sustainable supply of nutritional agrifood commodities/products. Country-specific evaluations of the extent of agrifood losses/wastes, including the pathways and impacts on net agrifood production, are crucial to inform interventions, research, policies and investments. This kind of knowledge is scarce in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, many of which are food insecure. This paper presents an estimation of and the bioenergy potential for agrifood loss and waste (AFW) - the edible and inedible residual biogenic fractions of crops and animal commodities/products - in Nigeria. Our findings reveal that Nigeria generates 183.3 ± 8.9MT of AFW per annum. About 27% of the average annual total domestic supply of edible agrifood commodities/products is lost before reaching markets/consumers. The intrinsic bioenergy potential of the inedible AFW fraction generated annually in Nigeria is estimated to be 1,816.8 ± 117.3PJ; this is sufficient to meet 2030's bioenergy targets and replace a third of its total (grid, off-grid and self-generation) supply targets. However, Nigeria lacks regulatory, policy and institutional frameworks specific to AFW management. This study recommends a sustainable approach to managing AFW, addressing the interlinked challenges of bioenergy production, public health and environmental sustainability. Besides addressing knowledge gaps in the Nigerian agrifood sector, the information generated in this study is well-timed to inform decision-making and policy formulation on decentralised AFW-based bioenergy interventions to achieve energy supply targets in the country by 2030 and beyond. This study is also strategic to guide future research/interventions that align with AFW utilisation/clean energy generation in SSA.

Assessing Nigerian Butchers' Knowledge and Perception of Good Hygiene and Storage Practices: A Cattle Slaughterhouse Case Analysis

In Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) guides the inspection and production of beef meat and prescribes the good practices pertinent to beef products’ handling, processing, and packaging. Specifically, good hygiene practice (GHP) assures beef product safety and consumer protection, whereas good storage practice (GSP) assures the continuity of hygiene activities within the storage stages. Relevant literature about butchers’ knowledge and perception of good hygiene and storage practices within Nigeria slaughterhouses remains scant. This current study, therefore, assessed butchers’ knowledge and perception of good hygiene and storage practices through a cattle slaughterhouse case analysis. The selected cattle slaughterhouse serves the increasingly thriving Nsukka beef market in Enugu State, Nigeria. Content validation was utilised to authenticate the questionnaire items, which were administered face-to-face to the respondents (i.e., the butchers). The questionnaire included a total of 30 questions. The results showed that the butchers were male (Freq. = 100%, n = 50), acquired their knowledge informally (Freq. = 88%, n = 44), were largely with more than 5 years of slaughterhouse experience (Freq. = 82%, n = 41), and were strongly (p < 0.0001) familiar with good hygiene (Freq. = 96%, n = 48) and storage (Freq. = 98%, n = 49) practices. The butchers provided examples that demonstrated knowledge and perception aspects of GHP and GSP. The perception aspects of GHP and GSP were correlated more, compared to knowledge and knowledge versus perception. Very conscious of their knowledge and perception of good hygiene and storage practices, the butchers herein have to strive for continuous improvement in their slaughterhouse activities to assure beef quality and consumer safety.

Testing the Role of Waste Management and Environmental Quality on Health Indicators Using Structural Equation Modeling in Pakistan

Improper management of municipal waste has become a growing concern globally due to its impact on the environment, health, and overall living conditions of households in cities. Waste production has increased because households do not adopt waste management practices that ensure sustainability. Previous studies on household waste management often considered socio-economic aspects and overlooked the environmental and behavioral factors influencing the disposal practices and health status. This study adopted four constructs, defensive attitude, environmental knowledge, environmental quality, and waste disposal, by employing a structural equation modeling approach to explore research objectives. Data from 849 households of the Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan was collected by using a multi-stage sampling technique. The structural model results showed that the two constructs, environmental knowledge and defensive behavior, positively affect household health status. The most significant health-related considerations are waste disposal and environmental quality, both of which negatively impact health status and do not support our hypothesis. The results provide valuable perspectives to enable households to engage actively in waste management activities. The findings indicate that understanding the intentions of household health status drivers can assist policymakers and agencies in promoting an efficient and successful community programmes related to sustainable solid waste management by allowing them to foster how the desired behavior can be achieved.

Assessing Health Damages from Improper Disposal of Solid Waste in Metropolitan Islamabad–Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Rapid urbanization in developing countries leads to a dramatic increase in solid waste production, with serious socio-economic and ecological impacts. In order to avoid the associated hazards, particularly those related to human health and the environment, solid waste management is indispensable. Disposal of municipal waste that predominantly comprises household and commercial refuse has become a daunting task for local governments and municipalities of Pakistan. Issues related to both inadequacy of service delivery and inappropriate disposal signify that waste management should be high on the local environment policy agenda. In particular, the external cost of waste management is high, and cost recovery of refuse collection may cause the exclusion of many households and additional costs on the households that avail themselves of the service. In this study, we carried out an evaluation of the health damage caused by improper waste disposal in a sample of heterogeneous households. The study shows a framework for evaluating the damages caused by inadequate waste management practices. The results indicate that irregular disposal in the vicinity of residents causes illness: respondents living within 100 m are more vulnerable to malaria, dengue, and asthma than those living more than 500 m away. Moreover, the findings highlight that households lack knowledge of waste hazards and 75.9% of waste is not segregated. We suggest a subsidized waste collection and disposal service provided either by the local government or by outsourcing.

Prevalence, toxigenic potential and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Staphylococcus isolated from ready-to-eat meats

Aim

An epidemiological surveillance for Staphylococci contamination of ready-to-eat (RTE) meats from Enugu State, Nigeria, was carried out to determine the prevalence, species distribution, toxigenic potential and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the organisms and hence the microbiological and toxicological safety of the meats.

Materials and Methods

Isolation and phenotypic Staphylococcus detection were done according to standard microbiological methods. Phenotypic resistance to 17 commonly used antimicrobial agents was determined by disc diffusion method. Molecular characterization of the isolates to species level and detection of selected toxigenic and antimicrobial-resistance genes were done by PCR methods.

Results

Twenty-four (9.4%) of the 255 meat samples investigated were contaminated with Staphylococcus species. Twenty-four Staphylococcus isolates belonging to six species of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) were identified. Four (16.7%) isolates harbored genes coding for exfoliative toxin-A. Ten (41.7%) isolates were multidrug resistant, while mecA, tetK, mphC, ermT and ermC were the antimicrobial-resistance genes detected in the isolates. Meat samples sourced from motor parks (16.7%) and open markets (8.5%) were the most contaminated.

Conclusion

9.4% of RTE meats sampled were contaminated with toxigenic and multidrug resistance CoNS. Beef was the most contaminated RTE meat type and harbored all the toxigenic and most of the antibiotic-resistant genes detected. Meat samples from motor parks had the highest staphylococcal contamination (16.7%), while those from mechanic village had the least (2.4%). Majority (79.2%) of the isolates were not susceptible to fusidic acid but none exhibited antimicrobial-resistance to chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, linezolid or teicoplanin. Food safety authorities in the study area should work proactively to massively improve the hygienic practices of meat vendors; in order to limit staphylococcal contamination of RTE meats and the associated public health problems.

Microbial anaerobic digestion (bio-digesters) as an approach to the decontamination of animal wastes in pollution control and the generation of renewable energy

With an ever increasing population rate; a vast array of biomass wastes rich in organic and inorganic nutrients as well as pathogenic microorganisms will result from the diversified human, industrial and agricultural activities. Anaerobic digestion is applauded as one of the best ways to properly handle and manage these wastes. Animal wastes have been recognized as suitable substrates for anaerobic digestion process, a natural biological process in which complex organic materials are broken down into simpler molecules in the absence of oxygen by the concerted activities of four sets of metabolically linked microorganisms. This process occurs in an airtight chamber (biodigester) via four stages represented by hydrolytic, acidogenic, acetogenic and methanogenic microorganisms. The microbial population and structure can be identified by the combined use of culture-based, microscopic and molecular techniques. Overall, the process is affected by bio-digester design, operational factors and manure characteristics. The purpose of anaerobic digestion is the production of a renewable energy source (biogas) and an odor free nutrient-rich fertilizer. Conversely, if animal wastes are accidentally found in the environment, it can cause a drastic chain of environmental and public health complications.

Possible role of plasma ceruloplasmin and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in assessing compliance with occupational hygiene and safety practices in waste management workers

OBJECTIVES

Work-related health and safety risks are common among waste management workers (WMWs). This study investigated the level of compliance with safety measures in relation to levels of inflammatory markers among WMWs in Sagamu, South-West Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

WMWs comprising 30 cart pushers (CPs) and 50 truck users (TUs) were recruited alongside 45 people from the normal population as control. Data on health complaints were obtained from questionnaire surveys. Inflammation was assessed by measuring plasma ceruloplasmin (Cp), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and albumin.

RESULTS

WMWs exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms and poor compliance with health and safety measures. Significant (P < 0.001) differences were observed in the use of masks, hand gloves, protective clothing, and footwear between TUs and CPs. ESR, Cp, and CRP increased significantly (P < 0.001) by 145, 28.7, and 42.5% in TUs and by 164, 50.5, and 74.3% in CPs, respectively, relative to control. Negative correlation was observed between use of mask (r = -0.225, P < 0.01), use of gloves (r = -0.184, P < 0.05), and Cp and between ESR and washing of hands with soap (r = -0.185, P < 0.05). The use of goggles (r = +0.285, P < 0.001), washing of hands with soap (r = +0.203; P < 0.01), use of masks (r = +0.317, P < 0.001), and use of gloves correlated positively in WMWs.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher prevalence of work-related symptoms and elevated inflammatory markers in WMWs was related to poor compliance with safety measures. ESR and Cp may be useful predictors of occupational hygiene and compliance with safety measures among Nigerian WMWs.

The levels of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress in individuals occupationally exposed to municipal solid waste in Ogun State, South West Nigeria

Airway inflammation and related respiratory complaints are common symptoms among waste management workers (WMWs). This study investigated the relationship between exposure to municipal solid waste (MSW) and the levels of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress among WMW of Ogun State, South West Nigeria. A total of 280 subjects consisting of 180 WMW and 100 controls were recruited. Ten millilitres of blood were collected from antecubital vein of the subjects for analysis. Results reveal that exposure to MSW is associated with systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Significant ( p < 0.001) elevation of ceruloplasmin (Cp) and C-reactive protein was associated with marked decreases in superoxide dismutase ( p < 0.01), catalase ( p < 0.001), and glutathione ( p < 0.05) and significant ( p < 0.001) increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) and uric acid when compared with control. Haematological disorders include significant ( p < 0.05) decreases in haemoglobin, packed cell volume, and mean corpuscular volume and significant ( p < 0.01) increase in total leucocyte count. Apart from decreased albumin ( p < 0.05) and elevated aspartate aminotransferase ( p < 0.05) activity observed in WMW, other markers of hepatic (alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total cholesterol and triglycerides) and renal (urea and creatinine) functions did not change significantly ( p > 0.05) when compared with the control. A positive correlation between leucocytes ( r = 0.195, p < 0.01), Cp ( r = 0.210, p < 0.01) and job duration and between Cp and MDA ( r = 0.200, p < 0.01) and Cp and leucocytes ( r = 0.260, p < 0.001) were observed in WMW. Overall, exposure to MSW predisposes to systemic inflammation and oxidative stress and Cp may be a useful biomarker for monitoring health status of Nigerian WMWs.