Magnitude and trends of ruminants, Pigs and poultry diseases in Taraba State, Nigeria, 2013- 2017: implications for public health

INTRODUCTION: Livestock diseases could pose a threat to public health through zoonoses and exacerbation of antimicrobial resistance with indiscriminate drug use. Understanding and managing public health threats at the human-animal-environment interface is key to global health security. We determined the magnitude and trends of zoonotic and Transboundary animal diseases (TADs) among livestock in Taraba State, a nexus for livestock activities in Nigeria. METHODS: we reviewed records of clinical cases between 2013 and 2017 at the Veterinary Services Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Taraba State. Data on livestock species, clinical diagnosis and sex were extracted and analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: of the total 1,535,267 cases in ruminants and pigs, top zoonotic diseases were Helminthoses (43.0 %), Trypanosomosis (21.2%) and ectoparasitism (14.9%); while TADs were Peste des Petits Ruminants (2.1%), Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (1.4%) and Foot and mouth disease (1.3%). Cumulatively, 87.3% of the cases in ruminants and pigs in Taraba State were zoonotic diseases. Of the total 237,671 cases in poultry, the most reported was coccidiosis (71.4%); disease of zoonotic importance was enteric salmonellosis (3.1%), and the most TAD was Newcastle Disease (8.4 %). More than half (53.9 %) of the ruminant and pig cases were females. The frequency of occurrence of most cases was regular across the years. CONCLUSION: the magnitude and pattern of animal diseases of zoonotic and public Health importance in Taraba State is high and endemic. Public education and One-Health approach involving veterinary services; public and environmental health is advocated towards the prevention and control of these diseases.