A study was conducted to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from bovine mastitis in settled Fulani herds in Kaduna state. Three hundred and sixty milk samples randomly collected from selected herds in Kaduna South, Igabi, Lere, Sabon-Gari, Giwa and Zaria were examined. The prevalence of mastitis at cow level was 26.9%, out of which 3.1% and 23.9% were clinical and subclinical mastitis, respectively. The prevalence of both S. aureus and MRSA were 15.3% and 7.8 % respectively. Significant proportion (42.9%) of the MRSA were isolated from cases of mastitis (P<0.05). Very high percentages of MRSA were resistance to penicillin (100.0%), amoxicillin (89.3%), ampicillin (89.3%), tetracycline (85.7%) and erythromycin (71.1%). The multiple drug resistance indices of the MRSA strains revealed that all the MRSA strains were resistant to 5 or more antibiotics tested; 6 (21.4%) strains were resistant to 6 antibiotics, 6 (21.4%) were resistant to 7 antibiotics, 8 (28.6%) were resistant 8 antibiotics and 4 (14.3%) were resistant to 9 antibiotics, while 19 (67.9%) exhibited the extensive drug classification pattern. The MIC values of the antibiotics showed that all (100%) have values greater than 256 μg/mL against oxacillin while 15 (53.6%) have values greater than 256 μg/mL against vancomycin, respectively. Nineteen (67.9%) of the MRSA isolates tested for PBP2a gave strongly positive (3+ to 4+) reactions in the Latex Agglutination Test, 5 (1.9%) were weakly positive (1+) in the Latex Agglutination Test while 4 (14.3%) were negative. The occurrence of MRSA in bovine mastitis is of public health concern due to difficulty in treatment of staphylococcal diseases and possible transmission of resistant pathogens to humans. Therefore, continuous monitoring and surveillance of antibiotic resistance pathogens, good husbandry practices, culling of infected cows and pasteurization of milk to eliminate MRSA and other pathogens are recommended

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the operational facilities and sanitary practices in Zangon Shanu abattoir, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Semi structured questionnaires were administered to the workers and also observational studies on facilities and sanitary practices in the abattoir were conducted. The results showed that 75.00% of the abattoir workers were between the ages of 25 to 35 years, with majority (P<0.05) not well educated. Also 60.00% of the workers are working in the abattoir for more than 6 years (P<0.05), with only 40.00% were well trained on abattoir operations. Observational assessment of abattoir facilities revealed that the size and sitting of the abattoir were very satisfactory, however not cited close to livestock market. Facilities such as lairage, evisceration section, guttery and tripery section, cold room, detained meat section and condemned meat section are present but non-functional. There is ample supply of water from the overhead tank and also hand pump borehole. Most of the solid wastes (bones, horns and undigested ingesta) were packed in sacks and transported out of the abattoir for other uses, while the rests were burnt in the abattoir and the ashes packed for other uses. Liquid wastes was normally done manually by sweeping with brooms and directed into the drainage system which was opened into the nearby stream and bush. All blood from the slaughtered animals were collected into containers, boiled and taken out of the abattoir for other uses. Cleaning and disinfection of the slaughter slabs, premises and floors were done daily and the wastewater and its effluents directed into drainage. The study recommends renovation of some facilities; provision of sanitary sections with well-equipped facilities and provision of bins and dumpsites for proper disposal of wastes.

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A serological survey was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis in livestock workers at Maiduguri cattle market, Borno State, Nigeria. A total of 100 serum samples comprising 40 from animal handlers, 25 from livestock keepers, 20 from butchers and 15 from middlemen were tested using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) antigen for both Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis. Seroprevalence rate of 11% was detected for B. abortus and 0% for B. melitensis antibodies out of the total sampled. The seroprevalence in animal handlers, livestock keepers, butchers and middlemen were found to be 12.5, 16, 10 and 0%, respectively. All persons screened were males. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between different categories of workers. It was concluded that brucellosis is prevalent in livestock workers at Maiduguri cattle market in Borno State. There should be education of this category of risk group of people especially as it relates to the use of personal protective equipments (PPEs) ante mortem and post mortem outfit and the consumption of unpasteurized milk and milk products. Government should control the disease with appropriate existing laws or new regulations, public health enlightenment, mass vaccination of animals and the establishments of equipped laboratories for regular screening of humans and animals by well trained personnel.