Survey of Immunochemical Fecal Occult Blood Antigens and Serological Detection of Helicobacter pylori antibodies from Cattle in FCT, Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Fecal Occult Blood (FOB) antigens and serologically detect H. pylori antibodies from cattle in FCT, Nigeria. About 300 samples were used for this study. The overall prevalence rate of H.pylori antibodies was 6.67%. Distribution of H.pylori in FCT based on ascending order are as follows; Abaji 4%, AMAC and Kuje 6%, while Kwali, Gwagwalada, Bwari had 8% each. Immunochemical feacal occult blood from cattle faeces yielded an overall prevalence rate of 0.67%. Comparison of prevalence rate of FOB antigen and H.pylori antibodies show that fecal occult blood was 1%each for Bwari and Gwagwalada Area Councils while AMAC, Kuje, Kwali and Abaji recorded no fecal occult blood. Age distribution of H.pylori antibodies and FOB antigen shows that H.pylori antigen was equal for adults and young at prevalence rate of 6.70%for each while the FOB was highest in the young 1% and lowest in the adults at 0.47% each. Sex distribution of H.pylori antibodies and FOB antigens from cattle yielded the highest percentage of 8.0% for males and lower 5.3% for the females for H. pylori while FOB prevalence was the same 0.67% in males and 0.67% in females respectively. Statistical analysis shows no-significant difference (P>0.05) between distribution of H.pylori antibodies and FOB antigens in various sexes, ages and locations/areas of FCT. It is therefore concluded that H.pylori antibodies could be present in situations where both fecal occult blood are found. Feces and blood of cattle could serve as reservoir for the spread and maintenance of infection in cattle herds. This could pose immense public health risk to the human population. It is therefore recommended that higher molecular studies involving detection, sequencing and analysis of genetic markers should be conducted in other domestic and wild animals. This will expose emerging strains of Helicobacter species and confirm their role in the spread of infectious diseases in Nigeria.