Abdurrahman Hassan Jibril

Meat condemnation at slaughterhouses reflects the rate of animal diseases, economic losses, and potential public health risks. In northern Nigeria, however, longitudinal and model-based assessments of condemnation patterns using routine abattoir data remain limited. This study aimed to quantify species- and disease-specific meat condemnation rates, examine short-term temporal variation during the study period, and identify predictors of condemnation at the Sokoto State Main Abattoir. A retrospective panel analysis of aggregated abattoir data with repeated temporal observations was conducted using abattoir meat inspection records from January to June 2025. Condemnation rates per 1000 animals slaughtered were calculated by species, disease category, and month. Short-term temporal variation within the study period and associated factors were evaluated using negative binomial regression with an offset for slaughter volume. These rates reflect the number of condemned organs recorded relative to the number of animals slaughtered, as multiple organs may be condemned from a single animal during post-mortem inspection. Model adequacy was assessed through dispersion diagnostics, multicollinearity checks, residual analyses, sensitivity analyses, and predictive calibration using observed versus model-predicted rates. A total of 317,685 animals were slaughtered during the study period, with 1628 condemnation cases, corresponding to an overall condemnation rate of 5.12 per 1000 animals slaughtered (95% CI: 4.88–5.38). Condemnation rates varied markedly by species, with camels exhibiting the highest monthly rates (140.05 per 1000 animals slaughtered), followed by cattle (51.80 per 1000 animals slaughtered), sheep (40.62 per 1000 animals slaughtered), and goats (22.19 per 1000 animals slaughtered) during the study period. Disease-specific analyses identified contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, fascioliasis, hydatidosis, and tuberculosis-like lesions as major contributors to condemnation. Temporal patterns demonstrated non-linear monthly variation, with elevated rates in mid-study months. The final negative binomial model showed good calibration, with close agreement between observed and predicted rates across species and diseases. Meat condemnation at the Sokoto State abattoir demonstrates substantial heterogeneity by species, disease, and time. Priority conditions such as contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), fascioliasis, hydatidosis, and tuberculosis-like lesions warrant targeted control efforts. These findings reinforce the value of routinely collected abattoir data as a practical and robust component of animal health surveillance in resource-limited settings.

Meat condemnation at slaughterhouses reflects the burden of animal diseases, economic losses, and potential public health risks. In northern Nigeria, however, longitudinal and model-based assessments of condemnation patterns using routine abattoir data remain limited. To quantify species- and disease-specific meat condemnation rates, assess temporal trends, and identify factors associated with condemnation at the Sokoto State Main Abattoir. A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted using abattoir meat inspection records from January to June 2025. Condemnation rates per 1,000 animals slaughtered were calculated by species, disease category, and month. Temporal trends and associated factors were evaluated using negative binomial regression with an offset for slaughter volume. Model adequacy was assessed through dispersion diagnostics, multicollinearity checks, residual analyses, sensitivity analyses, and predictive calibration using observed versus model-predicted rates. A total of 317,685 animals were slaughtered during the study period, with 1,628 condemnation cases, corresponding to an overall condemnation rate of 5.12 per 1,000 animals (95% CI: 4.88–5.38). Condemnation rates varied markedly by species, with camels exhibiting the highest rates (27.4 per 1,000), followed by cattle, sheep, and goats. Disease-specific analyses identified contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, fascioliasis, hydatidosis, and tuberculosis as major contributors to condemnation. Temporal patterns demonstrated non-linear monthly variation, with elevated rates in mid-study months. The final negative binomial model showed good calibration, with close agreement between observed and predicted rates across species and diseases. Meat condemnation at the Sokoto State abattoir demonstrates substantial heterogeneity by species, disease, and time. Priority conditions such as CBPP, fascioliasis, hydatidosis, and tuberculosis-like lesions warrant targeted control efforts. These findings reinforce the value of routinely collected abattoir data as a practical and robust component of animal health surveillance in resource-limited settings.

Several different pathogens, including Escherichia coli, are strongly associated with calf diarrhoea. The population diversity of intestinal E. coli within each diarrhetic calf and between diarrhetic calves is not well understood. In the present study, 391 faecal samples were obtained during 2023–2024 from Danish dairy calves with diarrhoea. Semi-quantified growth estimates of E. coli after culturing did not reflect the diarrhetic grade nor whether E. coli was the only pathogen observed in the sample. From each sample, five isolates were subjected to multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and revealed that 70% of faecal samples contained more than one type of E. coli. Genotyping, sequence typing and in silico serotyping showed a large diversity of E. coli between faecal samples. Surprisingly, isolates with a genotype representing mixed features of Diffusely adhering E. coli/Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli were found in 25% of the isolates, while the classic Enterotoxigenic E. coli genotype was only observed in 5% of the isolates, and only 4% of the faecal samples were positive for E. coli F5 (K99) fimbriae, as determined by PCR. In conclusion, a diverse population of (non-F5) E. coli is associated with diarrhoea in calves. High genomic diversity of E. coli within samples needs to be considered when selecting only one isolate for antimicrobial resistance profiling and vaccination measurements.

Mpox has re-emerged as a global public health threat, particularly in endemic regions such as Nigeria, where human, animal, and environmental health sectors intersect. To inform surveillance and control strategies, this study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward Mpox among One Health stakeholders in Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 492 participants from human, veterinary, and environmental health sectors using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, ordinal logistic regression, and margins analysis were used to evaluate levels and predictors of KAP. Results showed that 33.7% of respondents had low knowledge, 43.5% moderate, and 22.8% high. While 62.6% demonstrated high attitude scores, only 48.2% reported moderate preventive practices. Gender was significantly associated with attitudes, with females having lower odds of expressing higher attitudes than males (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.49–1.00, p = 0.052), and margins analysis revealed a predicted probability of high attitude at 56% for females and 64% for males. Multivariable modeling for practice was not pursued because model fit did not improve compared to univariable results, and sparse data led to unstable estimates, thus offering no added explanatory power. These findings underscore persistent knowledge gaps and gender-related disparities that may hinder effective Mpox response. Targeted risk communication and capacity building are recommended to strengthen One Health preparedness in Nigeria.

Animal welfare awareness (AWA) during transportation and in markets is a critical concern in livestock production, influencing the health of animals and other outcomes for stakeholders. Nevertheless, it remains understudied in many developing regions. This study investigates the level of awareness and practices regarding animal welfare during and after transportation among primary stakeholders — sellers, drivers, and buyers — in three livestock markets in Nigeria: Achida, Ikorodu Sabo, and Amansea. A structured survey focusing on the stakeholders’ familiarity with the concept of animal welfare, the Five Freedoms, the Animal Diseases (Control) Act, and encounters with veterinary control posts was conducted across the selected markets between February and July 2024. Furthermore, stakeholders were also questioned about barriers to improving practices. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed to explore associations between the dichotomised awareness of animal welfare and key variables. A significant association between AWA and market location was revealed, but not with occupation. Further analysis showed that dichotomised awareness of Veterinary Control Posts (VCPs) and the Animal Diseases (Control) Act had significant negative associations with AWA, suggesting complex relationships between legal knowledge and familiarity with the concept of animal welfare. Additionally, transport-related mortality was reported by 70.7% of respondents, with overcrowding and sickness identified as primary causes. However, significant barriers, including economic constraints and a lack of authority to mandate standards, were the leading challenges often faced by stakeholders. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and policy reforms, including increased enforcement.

Globally, Escherichia coli (E. coli) are an important cause of foodborne illness and a public health threat, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and resistance of E. coli to commonly used antibiotics in poultry farms in Niger State. A total of 164 samples were collected, consisting of 82 each of fresh and fecal dust from visited farms. E. coli was isolated by culture, characterized using biochemical methods, and molecular confirmation was done using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Subsequently, confirmed isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The total prevalence of 6.1% (10/164) was obtained by PCR. Dust samples 12.2% (10/82) have a statistically significant (p<0.001) higher prevalence as compared to fecal samples with no E. coli detection at all. Notably, all isolates were 100.0 % resistant to ampicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. A high rate of resistance was found to tetracycline (90.0%), trimethoprim (70 %), sulphonamide (70 %), nalidixic acid (50.0 %) and moderate resistance to ciprofloxacin (40.0%), chloramphenicol (40.0%) and gentamicin (40.0%). Remarkably, 70 % of the isolates were multidrug resistant and also, 20 % of the isolates were pan-drug resistant (PDR). Antimicrobial stewardship from relevant authorities and farmers, especially in combination with educational activities and public awareness campaigns, will help reduce the increasing trend of antimicrobial resistance.