Contagious ecthyma (CE) is a debilitating disease of sheep, goats and other ruminants caused by Orf virus (ORFV). Suspected outbreaks of CE were reported in three flocks of goats in Jos-South, Plateau State, Nigeria with proliferative lesions on the muzzle, oral commissures, perineal area and legs. Scab samples were collected from all the flocks and the affected animals placed on antibiotics. The samples collected were homogenized and the DNA extracted using QIAamp® DNA Mini kit (QIAGEN, Hilden Germany). The extracted DNA was subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifying two gene fragments: A32L and B2L of the ORFV. Two flocks were West African Dwarf (WAD) breed of goats with100% morbidity and 100% mortality recorded, while the third flock was Kano Brown breed with 6.7% morbidity and no mortality. A32L and B2L fragments of the ORFV genome was amplified by PCR from samples collected from the flocks. Contagious ecthyma was therefore confirmed based on classical clinical presentations and laboratory confirmation by PCR. Amplification of A32L and B2L gene fragments of the ORFV and 100% mortality in WAD breed of goats is the first report in Nigeria associated with CE. Further studies should be carried out to understand the role of breed, the epidemiology and economic impact of CE in Nigeria for the utilization of an appropriate control strategy.

Aim: Characterization of Infectious bursal disease viruses (IBDV) from the two outbreaks in Jos Nigeria, using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (RT-PCR/RFLP) technique. Materials and Methods:A total of 40 bursa samples were collected from two outbreaks in November 2011 from two farms of 6-8 weeks old pullets within Jos South Local Government Area, with mortality between 60 -74.2 % in commercially reared layer chicken flocks experiencing signs typical of infectious bursal disease (IBD). All the samples were found to contain IBDV genome by One Step RT-PCR using VP2 gene specific primers. Result:The assay amplified a 743bp fragment from 701-1444 nucleotides. RT-PCR product was further subjected to restriction digestion using TaqI, MvaI and SacI Restriction enzymes to differentiate classical from very virulent phenotypes. The RFLP profile was found similar for all eight isolates with TaqI and MvaI enzyme but different for SacI. All eight TaqIpositive Viruses were further found positive for MvaI digestion and yielded RFLP profile similar to vvIBDV in Europe whereas one isolate was SacI positive and had a RFLP profile similar to classic IBDV strains. Conclusion:The clinical history of high mortality and TaqI and MvaI restriction enzyme positivity revealed that vvIBDV strains still exist in Jos, North central Nigeria.

No abstract

This study was undertaken to isolate and identify Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides (Mmm) from the ear canal of apparently healthy cattle in Plateau State, Nigeria. One hundred and sixty six ear swab samples (n=166) were cultured from which eight (8) Mycoplasma species were isolated and characterized using conventional biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively. Six (6) were observed to ferment glucose, reduce tetrazolium chloride and hydrolysed casein. They had no phosphatase activity, did not produce 'film and spots' and neither hydrolysed arginine nor urea and were preliminarily identified as members of the Mycoplasma mycoides sub-cluster which comprises Mmm and Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri (Mmc). Three (3) of the 8 Mycoplasma isolates were identified as Mmm using the IS1296F/R(all) and MM450/MM451 primer sets. The 574 bp product obtained by MM450/MM451 primer set gave two fragments (379, 178 bp) on digestion with AsnI restriction enzyme further confirming the isolates. This is the first report of the isolation and molecular identification of Mmm from the ear canal of cattle in Nigeria. It is recommended that samples from the ear canal be considered when Mmm isolation is intended so as to improve the chance of recovery.

Background: Outbreaks of contagious ecthyma (CE) are frequently reported in sheep and goats flocks in Nigeria with severe clinical outcomes. CE is a debilitating and economically important disease primarily affecting sheep and goats caused by the Orf virus (ORFV). Despite field reports of CE in the country, there is no concise country-wide epidemiological data on the disease and limited genetic data of circulating Nigerian ORFV are available in the public domain. Aim: An epidemiological survey of CE and molecular characterization of ORFV circulating in Nigeria from 2014-2016 Method: Data were collected using questionnaires designed and administered to veterinarians and farmers in selected States of Nigeria. Samples collected during passive surveillance for CE from 2014 to 2016 were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The A32L and B2L genes of circulating ORFV were characterized. Results: Analysis of the questionnaire showed that 69.54% (n=82/118) of the farmers claimed to have experienced CE in their flocks with average morbidity and mortality rates of 25% and 15%, respectively. A total of 113 veterinarians participated in the study, with 69.9% (n=79) familiar with CE and claimed CE causes morbidity rates of 25%-37% and mortality rates of 10%-15% in sheep and goats. Laboratory results revealed that ORFV was detected in 72% (18/25) of outbreak samples analyzed by Real-time PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of A32L and B2L genes revealed that Nigerian ORFV sequences belong to cluster I and II and are similar to viruses from India, Ethiopia and China. Conclusions: This study is the first nationwide epidemiological data on the status of CE in sheep and goats in Nigeria. It is also the first report of molecular characterization of two genes of ORFV circulating and causing outbreaks in small ruminants in the country. This study showed that CE is under-reported, widespread and of economic importance to sheep and goat farmers in Nigeria.