Abstract
The persistent and highly transmissible Coxiella burnetii is a neglected infection that negatively affects reproductive parameters of livestock. It is also of zoonotic importance and has been reported to cause devastating human infections globally. Domestic ruminants represent the most frequent source of human infection. Data from Nigeria are very few and outdated. There is a significant gap in up-to-date information on the exposure, spatial distribution and risk factors of infection of this important disease. The exposure to C. burnetii was determined using sensitive serological assays in cattle and small ruminants. A total of 538 animals made up of 268 cattle and 270 small ruminants were sampled from three northern Nigerian states. The proportion of cattle sampled that were seropositive from the study locations were: Kwara 14/90 (15.6%; 95% CI: 8.8–24.7); Plateau 10/106 (9.43%; 95% CI: 4.6–16.7) and Borno 4/72 (5.56%; 95% CI: 1.5–13.6) states. Lower seroprevalence was recorded among the small ruminants sampled, with positives recorded from sheep and goat sampled from only Kwara state 6/184 (3.3%; 95% CI: 1.2–7.0); while none of the small ruminants sampled from Plateau were seropositive. The results of the bivariate analysis showed that none of the tested independent variables (village, age group, sex, breed of cattle, presence of ticks, reproductive status, and management system) were statistically significant factors associated with seropositivity of cattle for antibodies to C. burnetii. Stakeholders involved in animal husbandry should be duly educated on proper disposal of birth products as well as bodily fluids in order to reduce environmental contamination, persistence and human infection.
Highlights
Coxiella burnetii, is an important zoonotic pathogen affecting both animals and humans
Ruminant husbandry system in Nigeria is considerably similar to what is obtainable in the tropics where cattle and small ruminants are generally reared under the extensive pastoral husbandry system with little supplementary feeding
During the period of study, nine and five cattle keeping villages from three local government areas (LGA) each were studied from Kwara and Plateau States, respectively
Summary
Ruminant husbandry system in Nigeria is considerably similar to what is obtainable in the tropics where cattle and small ruminants are generally reared under the extensive pastoral husbandry system with little supplementary feeding. The animals are herded in hundreds and are moved from the arid/semi-arid northern Nigeria to the sub-humid and lush humid southern. The study was carried out in three northern Nigerian states: Kwara, Plateau and Borno (Fig 1). Kwara State comprised of rainforest in the south and wooded savannah in the larger part of the state [22]. Plateau is the highland area of central Nigeria is comprised of northern Guinea savanna vegetation, mainly open grassland and rocky hills [23]. Borno State is located in northeastern Nigeria and contains semi-arid savannah with flooded areas toward Lake Chad [24]
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