The global burden of human and animal brucellosis remains enormous. The disease, which is endemic in Nigeria, lacks appropriate attention and national data. This review estimated the burden and distribution of human and animal brucellosis in Nigeria in the last twenty-one years (2001–2021). Publications reporting the detection of brucellosis in Nigeria were sorted from different search engines, including PubMed, ResearchGate, Scopus, and Google Scholar, to generate data on its prevalence, spatial distribution, and predisposing factors. The results of the national seroprevalence of human and animal brucellosis as revealed in this study were 17.6% (554/3144) and 13.3% (8547/64,435), respectively. Specifically, 15.8% (7178/45,363) seroprevalence of brucellosis was recorded in northern Nigeria as against 8.7% (1902/21,740) seroprevalence in the southern part. It also indicated that 78.7% of the detected brucellae were un-typed. The Brucella species detected were B. abortus (15.2%), B. melitensis (4%), B. suis (1.8%), and B. canis (0.4%). This study revealed that brucellosis is endemic in Nigeria. Culture and molecular methods for detecting brucellosis and reports on antimicrobial susceptibility testing remain a conjecture. This review will help researchers redirect their research focus and serve as a guide for policymakers on measures for managing brucellosis in Nigeria.

Brucellosis is a neglected occupational zoonosis in Nigeria, driven by a large livestock sector and widespread exposure in high-risk settings. This systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, synthesizes evidence from 2001 to 2025 to estimate group-specific occupational seroprevalence of brucellosis in Nigeria. We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Medline, Web of Science, African Journals Online, Embase, and Google Scholar, using ResearchGate as a supplementary source of gray literature, for studies reporting laboratory-confirmed human seroprevalence among occupational and nonoccupational comparator groups. We computed pooled estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects (DerSimonian–Laird, logit-transformed) meta-analysis. The final corrected dataset comprises 15 studies from 10 named Nigerian states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), spanning 5 of Nigeria's 6 geopolitical zones (North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-East, South-West); no eligible studies from South-South. Overall pooled seroprevalence was 12.8% (95% CI: 8.6–18.6%; I² = 94.0%; raw seroprevalence: 13.6%, 477/3,508). Among nine occupational group studies, pooled seroprevalence was 13.7% (95% CI: 7.8–22.7%), with the highest among abattoir/slaughterhouse workers (27.2%, 95% CI: 21.3–34.1%), followed by livestock/cattle farmers (10.3%), nomadic herdsmen/pastoralists (10.0% and 0.7%, two divergent single- study estimates), and butchers (5.2%). Six non-occupational comparator studies pooled to 11.4% (95% CI: 6.1–20.5%), ranging from 3.8% among internally displaced persons to 28.7% among febrile/malaria patients in Enugu (South- East) and 19. 0% among women with miscarriage in Zaria. A high-quality-only sensitivity analysis (NOS ≥ 7/9) yielded 17.1% (95% CI: 11.0–25.7%). Key risk factors included handling aborted fetal tissue, raw dairy consumption, lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), and unregulated livestock migration. Abattoir workers remain the clearest, most robustly supported occupational risk group in the Nigerian evidence base and should be the priority target for mandatory PPE enforcement, targeted screening, and public health messaging.

The in vitro antibacterial, antioxidant, cytotoxic and larvicidal activities of essential oils isolated by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts (above the ground organs consisting of the leaves, stems and flowers) of Senecio polyanthemoides growing in three district municipalities of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa were investigated. The water-distilled oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Sixty-three constituents were characterized in all the samples analyzed representing 86.0–99.2% of the total oil compositions. The major components of the oils were monoterpenoid compounds with β-pinene, myrcene, α-phellandrene, cis-β-ocimene, trans-β-ocimene, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene and germacrene D found in all samples. Numerical cluster and principal component analyses of the major constituents revealed four well-defined chemotypes and a high variability within the oil samples. The essential oils show significant multi-methods activities on antioxidant, cytotoxic, and larvicidal, alongside effective antibacterial action against some key pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus pumilus and Enterococcus faecalis), with inhibition zone ranging from (8.3 ± 0.6–27.3 ± 0.9) mm and MIC values of ≤5.0 mg/mL. Documenting the inaugural, in-depth analysis of S. polyanthemoides growing in South Africa, this study provides novel findings on its antioxidant, larvicidal, brine shrimp lethality, and antibacterial activities.

The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and metabolic disorders necessitates the exploration of natural products with multifunctional biological activities. This study investigated the chemical composition and pharmacological properties of essential oil obtained from the dried flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry (clove). The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Biological activities were evaluated through antibacterial, membrane-disruptive, antiplatelet aggregation, acetylcholinesterase and metabolic enzyme inhibitory assays. GC–MS analysis revealed the predominance of phenylpropanoids (92.8%), with eugenol (91.7%) as the major constituent. The essential oil exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, producing significant growth inhibition. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that the oil compromised bacterial membrane integrity, leading to increased membrane permeability and leakage of intracellular constituents. In addition, the oil significantly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by common agonists (IC₅₀ = 1.05 to 3.55) compared to aspirin (IC₅₀ = 1.88 to 4.20), indicating potential antithrombotic properties. The essential oil also showed marked inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase, suggesting possible neuroprotective relevance in the management of cholinergic dysfunction. Furthermore, the oil inhibited key metabolic enzymes associated with carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms, supporting its potential role in the management of metabolic disorders. These findings highlight the multifunctional pharmacological potential of S. aromaticum flower bud essential oil as a natural source of antibacterial, antiplatelet, neuroactive, and metabolic enzyme inhibitory agents. Further in vivo studies and toxicological evaluations are warranted to validate its therapeutic applications and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.