Slov Vet Res 2010; 47 (2): 39-44 UDC 636.2.09:579.852.13:616-036.2(669) Review Article OUTBREAKS OF BLACKLEG OF CATTLE IN NORTHERN NIGERIA (1964-2003) Nicodemus Maashin Useh1*, Sani Adamu, Najume Ibrahim1, Andrew Jonathan Nok2, King Akpofure Nelson Esievo1 1Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, 2Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria Corresponding author, E-mail: nmuseh@abu.edu.ng Summary: Blackleg is an endemic disease in both developed and developing countries and is a well-known cause of financial loss to cattle raisers in many parts of the world. The disease is prevalent in the United States of America, India and other parts of Asia and Europe, Latin America, and Africa. In Nigeria, the economic losses of Zebu cattle alone to the disease have been estimated at US $4. 3 million (~600 million naira) annually. A retrospective study was carried out to ascertain the current status of the disease in Northern Nigeria, and it was observed that the traditional style of livestock production by the transhumance Fulani pastoralists of rural Nigeria, who own livestock resources in the country pose a great challenge to the control of the disease. It was concluded that blackleg is still endemic in Nigeria, and its effective control can only be achieved if the traditional livestock production system of the nomads of rural Nigeria is improved. Key words: blackleg; cattle; Northern Nigeria; outbreaks; retrospective study Introduction Blackleg is a disease affecting cattle, sheep and other ruminants, caused by Clostridium chauvoei and was first reported in 1870 (1). In Nigeria, the disease was first reported in 1929 and has remained a major problem of cattle in the country (2). Although vaccination against the disease has been carried out in Nigeria since 1930, many sporadic outbreaks have been recorded annually (3). Blackleg is endemic in both developed and developing countries and is a well-known cause of financial loss to cattle raisers in many parts of the world (4). The economic losses of ruminants to the disease have not been quantified in most parts of the world, but in Nigeria, the losses of Zebu cattle alone to the disease have been estimated at US $4.3 million annually (~600 million naira) (5). In the United States of America, Latin America, India and other parts of Asia and Europe, the economic losses of ruminants to blackleg have not been estimated, but it has been reported that the disease causes major economic losses in cattle and minor losses in sheep (4,6-7). High annual rainfall has been associated with increased outbreaks of the disease in ruminants (3,8). In this study, we present outbreaks of the disease for about 40 years (1964-2003) and the possible ways of effecting efficient control of the disease in Nigeria. Materials and methods A 40 year retrospective data on annual outbreaks of blackleg (1964-2003) was collected from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Archives at Kaduna and Abuja, Nigeria and the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Nigeria. Similar data of annual outbreaks of the disease in 12 states of Northern Nigeria was also collected from the Veterinary Services Division of these states. The data was recorded according to the number of outbreaks (N. O.), number of cattle in herds infected (N. C. I.) and mortality (M). Received: 30 January 2010 Accepted for publication: 17 June 2010 40 N. M. Useh, S. Adamu, N. Ibrahim, A. J. Nok, K. A. N. Esievo Results low in some years and states and high in others. During many of the years investigated, there were The outbreaks of blackleg of cattle in Northern few records of outbreaks of all diseases including Nigeria are presented in Tables 1-3. Outbreaks were blackleg. Table 1: Blackleg outbreaks in the provinces of Northern Nigeria (1964-1970) Year Provinces Kano Sokoto Katsina Borno Sardauna Bauchi Zaria Adamawa Plateau Niger Benue Kabba florin 1964 N.O. 4 14 24 19 2 22 6 4 31 1 N.C.I. 230 2409 - 1452 132 3353 1020 741 12 M 65 81 50 39 2 164 15 13 1 1965 N.O. 1 17 12 38 1 12 9 3 3 N.C.I. 70 3298 1087 7126 144 2611 1632 698 573 M 6 198 38 262 1 105 33 3 33 1966 N.O. 8 3 1 38 1 49 10 16 11 15 1 N.C.I. 945 414 3444 30 5502 1785 4300 1923 5127 300 M 44 18 181 241 73 159 37 194 10 1967 N.O. 4 3 12 7 36 2 17 9 9 3 N.C.I. 523 186 1824 2430 3995 390 2888 1140 1558 484 M 20 5 50 39 109 14 105 23 49 24 1968 N.O. 12 1 5 11 12 20 12 3 25 8 24 N.C.I. 1230 502 315 1445 2031 1214 2734 716 11284 817 M 66 35 22 43 72 62 53 26 124 39 6 1969 N.O. 13 2 1 8 28 17 2 16 8 9 N.C.I. 26 8 7655 3254 3878 314 456 2554 498 M 35 7 1 60 98 240 14 100 109 50 1970 N.O. 9 13 28 56 10 14 2 N.C.I. 1722 - 2756 11388 1138 1391 M 79 42 107 46 77 85 11 N.O. ^ Number of outbreaks N.C.I. ^ Number of cattle in the herds infected M ^ Mortality (Number of dead animals) Table 2: Blackleg outbreaks in 5 states of Northern Nigeria (1971-1975) Year North Eastern state North Western state Benue Plateau state North Central state Kwara state 1971 N.O. 11 21 26 80 1 N.C.I. 2460 4180 468 1375 280 M 9 216 17 187 12 1972 N.O. 18 10 12 24 N.C.I. 3490 5419 620 4089 M 120 42 15 120 1973 N.O. 8 1 3 16 1 N.C.I. 214 200 418 2184 412 M 22 11 19 34 1 1974 N.O. 22 12 10 20 N.C.I. 5180 4112 384 4010 M 18 216 11 218 1975 N.O. 1 12 6 27 N.C.I. 211 4020 2116 4124 M 84 118 25 296 Outbreaks of blackleg of cattle in Northern Nigeria (1964-2003) 41 Table 3: Outbreaks of blackleg in 11 states of Northern Nigeria (1976-2003) Year Gongola Benue Plateau Bauchi Niger Kaduna Kano Sokoto Borno Gombe Taraba 1976 N.O. 2 N.C.I. 149 M 4 1977 N.O. N.C.I. M 1978 N.O. 1 1 1 N.C.I. 170 63 1 M 2 - 1979 N.O. 4 1 2 7 1 N.C.I. 168 40 144 206 144 M 3 2 8 23 1 1980 N.O. 2 5 N.C.I. 1080 153 M 75 11 1981 N.O. 1 1 N.C.I. 1000 74 M 20 13 1982 N.O. N.C.I. M 1983 N.O. 1 4 N.C.I. 66 231 M 2 17 1984 N.O. 1 1 1 N.C.I. 44 132 96 M 1 6 4 1985 N.O. 2 1 5 4 N.C.I. 58 20 320 506 M 2 1 22 34 1986 N.O. 2 3 2 N.C.I. 60 154 76 M 2 3 4 1987 N.O. 2 1 N.C.I. 78 1 M 3 1 1988 N.O. 3 4 3 N.C.I. 98 211 259 M 2 5 17 1989 N.O. 4 4 3 2 N.C.I. 100 667 210 63 M 3 5 13 10 1990 N.O. 1 1 2 N.C.I. 36 31 80 M 2 2 13 1991 N.O. 3 1 1 2 N.C.I. 1092 46 75 176 M 48 3 4 15 42 N. M. Useh, S. Adamu, N. Ibrahim, A. J. Nok, K. A. N. Esievo (Tab. 3, continuation) 1992 N.O. 1 3 N.C.I. 20 59 M 5 2 1993 N.O. 1 1 1 N.C.I. 32 70 27 M 3 3 5 1994 N.O. 1 4 18 56 N.C.I. 38 127 450 1580 M 2 5 29 85 1995 N.O. 1 3 3 3 151 N.C.I. 44 376 83 1999 742 M 1 12 4 18 55 1996 N.O. 1 2 2 2 1 N.C.I. 40 55 50 205 162 M 2 5 3 25 42 1997 N.O. 1 2 4 N.C.I. 56 88 102 M 2 4 2 1998 N.O. 19 1 4 7 N.C.I. 842 68 456 1179 M 12 2 26 33 1999 N.O. 48 1 3 2 N.C.I. 680 51 1840 11 M 23 1 64 5 2000 N.O. 10 1 1 1 N.C.I. 728 28 130 55 M 20 3 4 3 2001 N.O. 1 6 18 N.C.I. 34 108 652 M 1 5 20 2002 N. O. 1 1 N.C.I. 56 180 M 2 3 2003 N. O. 50 N.C.I. 1870 M 58 Discussion The results of this study suggest that there are still pockets of annual outbreaks of blackleg of cattle in Northern Nigeria. The Fulani pastoralists of rural Nigeria are the custodians of livestock resources in Nigeria, with about 70-80% ownership of livestock production in the country (9). Some states investigated in the study had few blackleg outbreaks, because of poor record keeping. It is therefore possible to insinuate that outbreaks of the disease may have occurred in those states during the period investigated, but were not recorded. In Nigeria, the control of blackleg has been difficult because of ineffective vaccination policy, lack of adequate logistics such as vehicles to carry out vaccination activities, lack of facilities to maintain the cold chain for vaccine storage (hence inadequate potent vaccines) and lack of disease reporting by the nomads (3). Livestock disease control in Nigeria is the responsibility of government and therefore, if reports of outbreaks are not made to the authorities, Outbreaks of blackleg of cattle in Northern Nigeria (1964-2003) 43 it is difficult for government to know the status of blackleg in a given locality. Unfortunately, in the face of outbreak or rumour of one, the nomads move away in mass, from the so called danger areas, and even those of them whose cattle are infected move away, thereby serving as a source of infection to other supposedly healthy herds (3). The nomadic Fulani pas-toralists prefer to use herbal remedies to treat diseases of their livestock, including blackleg (10), and only report disease if their herbal preparations do not provide the desired therapeutic results. In most cases, disease outbreaks are reported only if there is uncontrollable cattle mortality. The present study on the outbreaks of blackleg of cattle in Northern Nigeria is important because, in Africa, there is migration of cattle between neighbouring countries, and a disease that is endemic in one country is a potential danger to neighbouring countries. Other authors (3) suggested that to achieve effective control of blackleg in Nigeria and the rest of Africa, governments of the sister African states must intensify awareness campaigns among the nomads, through the Nomadic Education Commissions of the respective countries. It is concluded that blackleg is still endemic in Nigeria, and its effective control can only be achieved if the traditional style of livestock keeping by Nomadic Fulani pastoralists who own most of Nigeria's livestock resources is improved. This is possible if they are settled and encouraged by government to reduce transhumance, with adequate support and provision of modern livestock rearing facilities. Acknowledgements The authors of this manuscript are grateful to the Director, Federal Livestock Department and Pest Control Services, Abuja, Nigeria for approving the use of data collated by his staff to conduct the present research. We also thank the Executive Director, National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Nigeria and the Directors of Veterinary Services of the 12 Northern states investigated for assisting with the data on blackleg outbreaks in their respective states. References 1. Armstrong HL, McNamee JK. Blackleg in deer. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1950; 117: 212-4. 2. Osiyemi TIO. The aetiology and data on seasonal incidence of clinical blackleg in Nigerian cattle. Bull Anim Health Prod Afr 1975; 23: 367-70. 3. Useh N M, Ibrahim NDG, Nok AJ, Esievo KAN. The relationship between annual rainfall and outbreaks of blackleg of cattle in Zaria, Nigeria. Vet Rec 2006; 158: 100-1. 4. Adams LG. Animal health issues in South Texas cattle. In: Workshop on beef cattle production systems and natural resources conservation in semi-arid lands of South Texas and North Mexico, Mexico, 1998. 5. Useh NM, Nok AJ, Esievo, KAN. Blackleg in ruminants. CAB Rev Perspect Agric Vet Sci Nutr Natur Resour 2006; 1: 1-8. 6. Ramarao D, Rao BU. Studies on the incidence of blackquarter in Karnataka during 1979-1985. Indian Vet J 1990; 67: 795-801. 7. Troxel TR Burke GL, Wallace WT, et al. Clostrid-ial vaccination efficiency on stimulating and maintaining an immune response in beef cows and calves. J Anim Sci 1997; 75: 19-25. 8. Uzal FA, Paramidani M, Assis R Morris W, Mi-yakawa MF. Outbreak of clostridial myocarditis in calves. Vet Rec 2003; 152: 134-6. 9. Awogbade MO. The nature of pastoral development: Nigeria's case in perspective. In: Proceedings of national conference on pastoralism in Nigeria. Za-ira, 1988. 10. Abdu PA, Jagun, AG, Gefu JO, Mohammed AK, Alawa CBI, Omokanye AT. Ethnoveterinary practices, research and development. In: Proceedings of National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria, 2000: 163. 44 N. M. Useh, S. Adamu, N. Ibrahim, A. J. Nok, K. A. N. Esievo IZBRUHI šUMEčEGA pRISADA (GANGRENA EMpHYSEMATOSA) pRI GOVEDU V SEVERNI NIGERIJI (1964 - 2003) N. M. Useh, S. Adamu, N. Ibrahim, A. J. Nok, K. A. N. Esievo povzetek: Šumeči prisad je endemična bolezen v razvitih ter državah v razvoju in je dobro poznan vzrok finančnih izgub pri rejcih goveda v več delih sveta. Bolezen je prevladujoča v Združenih državah Amerike, Indiji in drugih delih Azije, v Evropi, Latinski Ameriki in Afriki. V Nigeriji so bile ekonomske izgube pri govedu Zebu ocenjene na 4,3 miljona dolarjev (~600 milijonov nigerijskih niarov). Z retrospektivno študijo smo želeli potrditi trenuten status bolezni v severni Nigeriji in ugotovili, da je tradicionalni način govedoreje s sezonskim potovanjem čred pastirjev Fulani v ruralnih delih Nigerije, ki premorejo večino živine v državi, velik izziv za kontrolo bolezni. Šumeči prisad je v Nigeriji še vedno endemična bolezen. Učinkovito kontrolo pa bo mogoče doseči le z izboljšanjem tradicionalne reje govedi nomadov na podeželskih področjih Nigerije. Ključne beside: šumeči prisad; Severna Nigerija; izbruhi; retrospektivna študija