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.

Pre-slaughter, slaughter and post-slaughter practices of slaughterhouse workers in Southeast, Nigeria: Animal welfare, meat quality, food safety and public health implications.

Background: Pre-slaughter stress or the welfare condition of food-producing animals (FPAs) and the slaughter practices of slaughterhouse workers (SHWs) are critically important for the safety and quality of meats processed in slaughterhouses (SHs). Consequently, this study determined the pre-slaughter, slaughter, and post-slaughter (PSP) practices of SHWsin four SHs in Southeast, Nigeria; and discussed the impacts on meat quality and safety.

Methods: The PSP practices were determined by observation method.

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.

Bovine fetal wastages in Southeast Nigeria: prevalence, causes and public health implications.

Slaughter of pregnant animals for meat is unethical, counterproductive and enhances zoonotic disease spread. This study determined the prevalence and reasons for slaughtering pregnant cows (SPCs) for meat. Pregnancy status of cows slaughtered was determined by evisceration and longitudinal incision of the uterus for presence of fetus.

Antimicrobial drug usage pattern in poultry farms in Nigeria: implications for food safety, public health and poultry disease management.

Good antimicrobial drug stewardship in food‑producing animals boosts productivity and limits transmission of zoonotic pathogens, but the imprudent usage is counterproductive. A nation‑wide survey to determine the pattern of antimicrobial drug usage in poultry was therefore conducted across 12 of the 36 States in Nigeria. The survey was conducted using structured questionnaire designed to elicit information on socio‑demographics, pattern of antimicrobial drug usage and awareness of the consequences of imprudent use of antimicrobials in food‑producing animals, among 2,402 randomly selected poultry farmers.

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

The increase in the slaughter of pregnant cows (SPCs) for meat (except as may be approved by veterinarians on health grounds to salvage the animal) is unethical. SPCs for meat is also counterproductive, detrimental to food security, and may enhance zoonotic disease transmission. In this context, therefore, this current study examined slaughter conditions and the slaughtering of pregnant cows, and the implications for meat quality, food safety, and food security in Southeast Nigeria.

Epidemiology of infections with zoonotic pig parasites in Enugu State, Nigeria.

Pig production is an important component of animal agriculture in Nigeria but zoonotic parasites constrain the production and make pork unsafe for human consumption. This epidemiological study was therefore conducted, to ascertain the prevalence and determinants of Taenia solium cysticerci and Ascaris spp infections in pigs in Enugu State. Presence of cysticerci was determined by post-mortem examination of pig carcasses while pig faeces were coprologically examined for presence of Ascaris spp egg, according to standard parasitological protocol.