Our findings show the highest LASV positivity in small rodents ever recorded and the first direct detection of LASV in Tatera spp. Our findings also indicate the abundance of LASV-infected small rodents in houses, with probable interspecies transmission through vertical and horizontal coitus routes.

Usutu virus (USUV) is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) of the flaviviridae family (genus Flavivirus) which belong to the Japanese encephalitis virus complex. Culex mosquitoes have been implicated in the transmission of this pathogen. The major susceptible hosts of USUV are migratory birds, thereby potentiating its ability to spread from one region to another globally. Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa with a significant percentage of the gross domestic product relying on the agricultural and animal production industry. This review explores the zoonotic potentials of the virus in Africa, especially Nigeria, with special focus on the devastating sequelae this might lead to in the future if necessary precautionary policies are not enacted and adopted to bolster the surveillance system for mosquito-borne viruses.

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Impediment to the aquaculture industry and consequently, impoverishment of the Nigerian populace can be attributed to several factors ranging from managemental to infectious or noninfectious. Despite the abundantly blessed land capacity and nourishment, the industry continues to face several losses. As part of the very important infectious agents known to cause high morbidity and mortality across several fish species is Edwardsiella tarda. E. tarda is directly associated with enteric septicemia in several fish species and ages. Infections caused by this bacterium is usually presented as gastrointestinal (gastroenteritis) and extra-intestinal (myonecrosis, bacteremia and septic arthritis) infections. E. tarda is an economic and public health threat because of its extensive impacts on the aquaculture industry as well as its ability to cause severe human infections such as diarrhea, gastroenteritis, typhoid-like illness, peritonitis with sepsis, cellulitis and meningitis. Furthermore, they are associated with the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in human and animal population. The threat posed by this bacterium have necessitated this current review on the overview of the risk factors and the presence of the organism in Nigeria. An elucidation into the bacterium, its epidemiology, threat to aquaculture industry and the global population are reviewed and the probable ways to control the presence of the organism are also discussed. Novel genetic engineering of the genes of the organism as a vital tool to drug and vaccine development are germane in this current age as a useful tool and strategy to have a world safe and in health. In conclusion, this review highlighted the necessary steps and approach to mitigate the bacterium and safe the Nigerian aquaculture from the emergence of a fatal infectious disease from fishes to human, as well as improvement in global trading.

The environment where fishes are caught often determines their microbial flora, many of which are potential spoilers and not necessarily pathogenic to fishes but are implicated as cause(s) of serious foodborne illnesses and toxin-infections in humans, hence, their presence above permissible levels portends food-safety threats. This study showed the microbial load in Oreochromis niloticus obtained from selected farms in Ibadan, Nigeria. A total of 156 samples consisting of gills, intestines and skins were collected from 52 O. niloticus obtained from Egbeda-(A), Ido-(B), Ibadan-north east-(C) and Ibadan north-west-(D) Local Government Areas of Ibadan for Microbial Load {Total Aerobic Count-(TAC) and Total Coliform Count-(TCC)} enumeration. TAC and TCC were performed using standard methods, and  calculated in mean Log Colony Forming Unit ± Standard Deviation (logCFu ± SD). Data were analysed with ANOVA. Overall mean logCFu ± SD TAC and TCC from gills, intestine and skin for the 156 samples were 8.65 ± 0.28 and 6.82 ± 0.20, respectively. Mean TAC 8.64 ± 0.28, 8.69 ± 0.28and 8.62 ± 0.3 and mean TCC 8.69 ± 0.22, 8.66 ± 0.23 and 8.73 ± 0.22 were obtained for gills, intestine and, skin respectively, with p>0.05. Means TAC 8.63 ± 0.36, 8.70 ± 0.20, 8.68 ± 0.33 and 8.56 ± 0.14 and TCC 8.56 ± 0.25, 8.86±0.16, 8.65 ± 0.18and 8.69 ± 0.16 were observed for locations A, B, C, and D respectively with p<0.05 for TAC and p˂0.05. Mean microbial load counts obtained in this study was higher than permissible count of 7 logCFu/mL by International Commission on Microbiological Specification for Foods (ICMSF) for fresh fish, thus, portending public health threats. Keywords: Oreochromis niloticus, Aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriacea and Coliforms