SARS-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the agent that causes the disease COVID-19, first reported December 2019 in Wuhan China. (1), (2) The virus, thought to have emerged from an animal source and spilled-over to human population. Although genetically closely related viruses were isolated from Rhinolophus bats (3), the source of SARS-CoV-2 and its route of introduction into human population has not been proven.
The first official case of COVID-19 in Nigeria was announced On Feb 27, 2020 (4) when a patient of Italian origin, arrived in Lagos from Europe. As at 9th May 2021 there were 165,382 confirmed cases with 2,065 deaths CFR 1.3% across all the states in Nigeria,(5) with Lagos accounting for the highest 35% of the cases and 21% of deaths nationwide resulting into 58,743 cases and 439 deaths. This was followed closely by Abuja FCT with 19,842 cases and 166 deaths, Kaduna State with 9,068 cases and 65 deaths, Plateau State 9,060 cases and 57 deaths, Rivers State 7,174 cases and 33 deaths, (5) currently, all the 36 states have reported COVID-19 cases. Lower cases were reported in Kogi, Cross-Rivers and Taraba States. World Health Organization stated on 18 March 2020 that the number of cases in Africa was likely higher than reported, due to limited testing and deficiencies in emergency preparedness.
The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control is the government agency in charge of COVID-19 preparedness and response activities. A Coronavirus Preparedness Group was established at the end of January 2020 by the Nigerian government following the development of the epidemic in China. National NGOs, civil society organizations, international NGOs and UN agencies are also engaged in responding to the pandemic and the effects of COVID-19 containment measures.(6)
Health care workers had been in the fore front of the fight against the COVID-19 disease worldwide, from Doctors, nurses, epidemiologist, Pharmacist and other essential workers. During and after the lockdown, essential services such as hospitals, emergency services, security services, health workers, pharmacies, electricity and gas, food supply chains and veterinary establishments were in operation.(7) Veterinary practitioners as health care workers also play an important role in public health, animal health and food safety. When veterinary services received essential status at the onset of the pandemic, the industry pledged to limit non-essential procedures so that ventilators, surgical masks and other critical supplies could be conserved for use in human hospitals. But as essential workers themselves, faced with attending to animal patients and their owners, the risk of contracting the virus became higher.(8) In Lagos State, veterinary practitioners are found in both the public and private sectors delivering services such as animals disease and zoonosis diagnosis and treatment, vaccine administration, drug distribution, health education and providing direct patient care. This means that close contact with animal owners may be unavoidable and with limited PPE that was already diverted for use in human hospitals (8) this arm of health care workers became more vulnerable.
Although the current pandemic of COVID-19 is being sustained through human to human transmission, animal infections with SARS-CoV-2 have however been reported by several countries. Several animal species have proven to be susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2 either naturally or by experimental infection.(9) Important livestock species (pigs and poultry) have been demonstrated not to be susceptible to infection through experimental studies. (9) Further studies are however needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by SARS-CoV-2. It is important to monitor infections in animals to better understand their epidemiological significance for animal health, biodiversity, and human health. Evidence from risk assessments, epidemiological investigations, and experimental studies do not suggest that live animals or animal products play a key role in SARS-CoV-2 infection of humans.(10) However Several animal species have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, mostly as a result of close contact with humans infected with COVID-19 disease. (9) In animals, Knowledge about clinical disease manifestations is limited. Current evidence suggests clinical signs may include, but are not limited to, coughing, sneezing, respiratory distress, nasal discharge, ocular discharge, vomiting or diarrhea, fever, and lethargy. As in humans, asymptomatic infections also occur. (10)
With increase in cases of COVID-19 infection worldwide and the occurrence of community transmission of the disease in various community including Lagos Nigeria, it is important to be able to generate information on how the pandemic is affecting workers and patients in the animal health sector in Lagos, which is a major culprit in the origin and possible maintenance of the disease for future dissemination.
This study is meant to provide epidemiological information on the infection of covid-19 among veterinary practitioners that practiced during the Lagos lockdown, and to the best of our knowledge, it’s the first to provide information on the COVID-19 status of canine in Lagos and by extension Nigeria. And also information on associated factors leading to a positive COVID-19 case between a veterinary practitioner and his canine contact. This will help policy makers to inform relevant training and policies during this or future zoonotic related outbreaks.