Prevalence and correlates of influenza-a in piggery workers and pigs in two communities in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

IntroductionWorldwide, three Influenza-A virus subtypes (H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2) in swine are major public health issues. In Nigeria, the existence of these subtypes in pigs has not been well studied. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and correlates of Influenza-A viruses circulating in piggery workers and pigs in Oke-aro and Goshen communities in Lagos, Nigeria.MethodsNasal swabs were taken from 197 consenting piggery workers and 281 randomly selected pigs to determine the prevalence of Influenza-A (H1, H3, H5) using Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction test (gene M). An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect information on demography, Influenza-A related symptoms experienced, personal hygiene and management practices from the piggery workers. Descriptive statistics was used and chi square test performed at 5% significant level.ResultsAll piggery workers and pigs’ nasal swabs tested negative for Influenza-A viruses, hence, association could not be tested. Mean age of piggery workers was 41 ± 13.6 years and 60% were females. Forty two percent were farm attendants, 38.0% were pig farmers and the rest butchers. Nineteen percent had history of headache; 14.0% had catarrh and cough; 4.0% had sore-throat; 5.0% had diarrhea; while 48.0% had muscle pain at the time of data collection. The mean body temperature for the pig workers was 36.5 ± 0.5 °C. A significant difference (p<0.05) existed among piggery workers who had muscle pains.ConclusionPiggery workers and pigs in study area were free of Influenza-A (H1, H3, H5) viruses. The current practices of the piggery workers should be encouraged.

Seroprevalence of influenza A virus in pigs and low risk of acute respiratory illness among pig workers in Kenya

“…Our finding of 3% influenza positive ARI human cases is lower than a community study in Romania that reported 13% influenza A virus positive samples among ARI cases by PCR [32, 33]. The low number of PCR positives among ARI cases could be due to sampling a healthy population who did not have active infection at the time of sampling or had a subclinical infection.…”

Systematic Review of Important Viral Diseases in Africa in Light of the ‘One Health’ Concept

“…Interestingly, 171 human sera and 188 swine sera samples were found to be positive with influenza A IgG antibodies using an ELISA assay. This study presented the evidence of past exposure of the swine and piggery workers to IAV infection [128].…”

A Systematic Review Analyzing the Prevalence and Circulation of Influenza Viruses in Swine Population Worldwide

“…Other Influenza Virus Types References Africa Cameroon H1N1, A(H1N1)pdm09 None [51][52][53] Nigeria H1N1, H3N2, A(H1N1)pdm09, H5N1 None [52,[54][55][56][57][58][59] Ghana H3N2 None [57] Egypt H5N1, H5N2, H9N2, A(H1N1)pdm09 None [60,61] Kenya H1N1, H3N2, A(H1N1)pdm09 None [62][63][64] Benin, Cote d'Ivoire None None [65] Reunion island A(H1N1)pdm09 None [66] Togo A(H1N1)pdm09 None [67] Uganda IAV None [68]…”

“…Africa Cameroon H1N1, A(H1N1)pdm09 None [51][52][53] Nigeria H1N1, H3N2, A(H1N1)pdm09, H5N1 None [52,[54][55][56][57][58][59] Ghana H3N2 None [57] Egypt H5N1, H5N2, H9N2, A(H1N1)pdm09 None [60,61] Kenya H1N1, H3N2, A(H1N1)pdm09 None [62][63][64] Benin, Cote d'Ivoire None None [65] Reunion island A(H1N1)pdm09 None [66] Togo A(H1N1)pdm09 None [67] Uganda IAV None [68] Asia China H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, A(H1N1)pdm09, H5N1, H9N2, H4N1, H4N6, H5N3, H10N5, H4N8, H6N6, H7N9, H3N8 ICV, IDV Bhutan H1N1, A(H1N1)pdm09 None [107] Cambodia H1N1, H3N2, A(H1N1)pdm09 None [108,109] Japan H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, A(H1N1)pdm09 ICV [110][111][112][113][114][115][116][117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124][125][126] South Korea H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, A(H1N1)pdm09, H7N2, H5N2, H3N1 None [127][128][129][130][131]…”

“…A high seroprevalence of IAV in a commercial piggery was reported in Lagos. Total 197 human and 281 swine sera samples were screened which determined that 87% human and 67% swine sera had antibodies for IAV depicting the past exposure [58] but the active infection was absent given that all nasal swabs were negative for IAV infection [58]. Lately, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) strain H5N1 was detected in 22 swine samples between December 2015 and February 2016 during an ongoing H5N1 disease outbreak in Nigerian poultry [59] which indicated the inter-species transmission of H5N1 virus from poultry to swine [59].…”