O. O. Omotosho
University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Title: Gastric lesions and molecular evidence of Helicobacter suis infection in pigs in Nigeria
Biography
Biography: O. O. Omotosho
Abstract
Gastric lesions in pigs and humans have been associated with Helicobacter suis infection. This study was designed to determine the occurrence of gastric lesions and Helicobacter suis infection in pigs in Nigeria. Stomach from 480 pigs in Southwestern Nigeria was assessed for gastric lesions using a modification of a standard lesion grading method. Mucosa samples from the fundus of 160 pig stomachs from four regions of Nigeria (Lagos, Delta, Enugu and Plateau states) were collected for molecular detection of H. suis. The DNA from samples was extracted with ZR Fungal/Bacterial DNA MiniPrep TM Isolation Kit (Zymo research corp. USA). PCR was done using previously published primers. Data obtained were presented as frequency counts and analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Chi-square techniques. Significance was determined at p≤0.05. Gastric lesions were encountered across the four regions of the stomach with a point prevalence of 57.3%. The prevalence of lesions in the non-glandular region was 32.9%. Helicobacter suis was detected in samples from all regions with frequency of occurrence 8%, 6%, 10% and 14% in Lagos, Delta, Enugu and Plateau states respectively. The gastric lesion distribution across the four regions of the stomach and the occurrence of ulceration in the fundus showed an unusual pattern which is rarely reported in other parts of the world. This is a first report of Helicobacter suis infection of pigs in Nigeria. These findings present the need for further studies to determine its possible role in gastric lesions in pigs and humans in Nigeria.