| Summary: | Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa,
has a large proportion of the world’s poor livestock
keepers, and is a hotspot for neglected zoonoses. A
review of the 127 accessible publications on brucellosis in
Nigeria reveals only scant and fragmented evidence on its
spatial and temporal distribution in different epidemiological
contexts. The few bacteriological studies conducted
demonstrate the existence of Brucella abortus in cattle
and sheep, but evidence for B. melitensis in small
ruminants is dated and unclear. The bulk of the evidence
consists of seroprevalence studies, but test standardization
and validation are not always adequately described,
and misinterpretations exist with regard to sensitivity
and/or specificity and ability to identify the infecting
Brucella species. Despite this, early studies suggest that
although brucellosis was endemic in extensive nomadic
systems, seroprevalence was low, and brucellosis was not
perceived as a real burden; recent studies, however, may
reflect a changing trend. Concerning human brucellosis,
no studies have identified the Brucella species and most
reports provide only serological evidence of contact with
Brucella in the classical risk groups; some suggest
brucellosis misdiagnoses as malaria or other febrile
conditions. The investigation of a severe outbreak that
occurred in the late 1970s describes the emergence of
animal and human disease caused by the settling of
previously nomadic populations during the Sahelian
drought. There appears to be an increasing risk of reemergence
of brucellosis in sub-Saharan Africa, as a result
of the co-existence of pastoralist movements and the
increase of intensive management resulting from growing
urbanization and food demand. Highly contagious
zoonoses like brucellosis pose a threat with far-reaching
social and political consequences.
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