Slaughter Conditions and Slaughtering of Pregnant Cows in Southeast Nigeria: Implications to Meat Quality, Food Safety and Security

Systematic review and meta-analysis of Campylobacter species infections in humans and food-producing animals in Nigeria, 2002-2023: The imperative of a One Health control approach

Zoonotic Campylobacter species (ZCS), particularly C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari, pose significant health risks to humans and food-producing animals (FPAs). This study investigates the prevalence, geospatial and temporal distributions of Campylobacter species infections (CSI) in Nigeria from 2002 to 2023 through a systematic review and meta-analysis of 40 studies, adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The overall pooled prevalence of CSI was 33 % (95 % CI: 25 % - 41 %), with significant variations among hosts: poultry (42 %, 95 % CI: 27 % - 57 %), humans (30 %, 95 % CI: 23 % - 38 %), and cattle (21 %, 95 % CI: 15 % - 32 %). In humans, the prevalence were 20.3 % in healthy individuals, 23.8 % in diarrheic patients, and 34.2 % in HIV patients. C. coli was the predominant isolate in humans (87.5 %) and cattle (38.1 %), while C. jejuni was prevalent in poultry (76.2 %). The North-West geopolitical zone exhibited the highest geospatial prevalence at 40 % (95 % CI: 23 % - 57 %). Meta-regression analysis indicated that diagnostic method did not significantly impact prevalence (p = 0.2170), but sample type explained 25.70 % of the between-study variance (Wald χ2 (2) = 33.10, p < 0.0001). Poultry samples showed the highest predicted prevalence at 47.8 % (95 % CI: 39.01 % - 56.51 %), significantly greater than cattle at 18.3 % (95 % CI: 8.9 % - 27.8 %; coefficient = 0.2942, p < 0.001). Sensitivity analyses showed minimal changes in pooled prevalence (33 % to 32 %), confirming the robustness of findings despite high heterogeneity (I2 = 99.48 % vs. 99.52 %). Temporal analysis indicated that poultry infections peaked between 2016 and 2020. These findings highlight the critical importance of implementing effective biosecurity measures and enhancing food safety practices to mitigate Campylobacter transmission in Nigeria, particularly in poultry and the North-West zone, which exhibited the highest prevalence rates. The adoption of One Health control approach, including the "farm to fork" principle, is strongly recommended to limit human Campylobacter infections by ensuring comprehensive food safety practices throughout the livestock production and processing value chains.

Epidemiology of multidrug-resistant zoonotic E. coli from beef processing and retail points in Delta State, Nigeria: Public health implications

Some sorbitol non-fermenting E. coli (SN-F E. coli) and all E. coli O157 are zoonotic. Contamination of beef with zoonotic E. coli at the processing or retail point is a significant public health problem. Despite the public health importance of these organisms, there is no published data on the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of zoonotic E. coli from Delta State, Nigeria. Consequently, this study determined the prevalence and AMR of SN-F E. coli and E. coli O157 isolates from meat contact surfaces at the processing and retail points in the study area. The isolation, biochemical and serological characterisations and AMR status of the isolates were performed following standard microbiological methods. Overall prevalence of SN-F E. coli and E. coli O157 were 13.8% (56/406) and 1.5% (6/406), respectively. Majority of the 56 SN-F E. coli (64.3%, 36/56) and all the six E. coli O157 (10.7%, 6/56) detected in this study were found at the meat processing points. Most of the SN-F E. coli were isolated at the slaughterhouse floor (31%), meat hooks (17.2%) and meat sellers' knives (17.2%). The SN-F E. coli exhibited greater AMR to ampicillin (67.9%), gentamycin (64.3%) and tetracycline (50%) than other antimicrobial agents tested. No isolate was resistant to aztreonam. All six E. coli O157 isolates were resistant to enrofloxacin. Overall, 23 AMR patterns, comprised 14 from meat processing points and nine from meat retailing points, were observed from the 56 antimicrobial-resistant SN-F E. coli isolates. All the six E. coli O157 and 73.2% (41/56) of the SN-F E. coli isolates were multidrug-resistant. An overall mean multiple antimicrobial resistance index of 0.6 was recorded. Multidrug-resistant zoonotic E. coli were detected at meat processing and retail points in Delta State, Nigeria. The findings warrant the adoption of One Health control approach, "farm to fork" principle of food safety and prudent use of antimicrobial agents in animal agriculture. These may help to limit beef contamination with multidrug-resistant zoonotic E. coli at the processing and retailing points, for public health safety.

Indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant goats for meat in Enugu, Nigeria: Causes, prevalence, implications and ways-out

BACKGROUND

The indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant goats (SPGs) undermines meat production and food security especially in developing countries. It also connotes animal cruelty, depletion of goat population and may enhance the spread of zoonotic pathogens inhabiting the female reproductive tract during carcass processing. Consequently, this study determined the causes and prevalence of slaughtering pregnant goats for meat in Enugu, Nigeria. The study also estimated the economic losses associated with SPGs, discussed the negative public health consequences and suggested the ways-out.

METHODS

Structured, validated and pilot-tested questionnaire was used to ascertain the reasons for SPGs for meat among 78 willing and randomly selected respondents. The questionnaire survey was conducted in the form of interview. Pregnancy statuses of the goats slaughtered were ascertained by visual inspection and palpation of the eviscerated and longitudinally incised uteri and the horns for macroscopic evidence of pregnancy. Ages of the dams were estimated by dentition method. Estimation of the gestational age was performed by crown-rump length method. The study lasted for six months, comprised of three months (December to March) during the dry/hot season and another three months (May to August) during the wet/rainy season. Economic loss estimation was based on the current monetary values of a matured (30 kilogram) goat and one kilogram of chevon in Enugu, Nigeria; which was determined through market survey. Pearson's Chi-square test was used to determine whether there were significant (P<0.05) statistical associations between SPGs and age and season.

RESULTS

Major reasons adduced for SPGs were: economic hardship (41%), ignorance of the goat's pregnancy status (21%), increased demand for chevon (13%) and feed scarcity during drought (11%). Of the 1,658 does examined during the six months study, 589 (35.5%) were pregnant. The majority (876/1658, 52.8%) of the female goats slaughtered were in their active reproductive age of ≤ 4 years, while 782 (47.2%) were aged > 4 years. Similarly, majority (1007/1658, 60.7%) of the does/nannies were slaughtered during the dry/hot season. A total of 907 foetuses at first (n = 332, 36.6%), second (n = 486, 53.6%) and third (n = 89, 9.8%) trimesters of gestation were recovered from the 589 PGs. Singleton, twin and triplet pregnancies were observed in 312 (53%), 236 (40%) and 41 (7%) PGs, respectively. About ₦34.44 million ($83,390) would have been earned if the foetuses were born alive and raised to maturity. Additionally, 19,136 kg of chevon, valued at ₦47,841, 000 ($115,838), which would have accrued from the wasted foetuses was also lost.

CONCLUSION

Considering the economic, zoonotic and livestock production implications of this work, frantic efforts to reduce SPGs in Enugu, Nigeria is imperative. This could be achieved through advocacy, goat farmers' enlightenment, ante-mortem pregnancy diagnosis, provision of subsidized feed materials during the dry season and strict enforcement of the Nigerian Meat Edict law, which proscribes unapproved slaughter of gravid animals. These measures may improve food safety and security, improve goat reproduction and production, reduce protein malnutrition, limit dissemination of zoonotic pathogens during carcass processing and hence protect public health in Nigeria.