Prevalence of <i>Mycobacterium bovis</i> in Cattle Slaughtered at Sokoto Central Abattoir

Abstract

This study was undertaken to screen cattle slaughtered at the Sokoto Central Abattoir for antibodies against Mycobacterium bovis. By the lateral flow technique (immunochromatography), using monoclonal antibodies for M. bovis (BioNote, Inc. Gyeonggi-do, Korea) and by post mortem examination. A total of 194 slaughtered cattle were randomly selected (using systematic sampling technique) and screened. Eight (4.12%) were positive for antibodies against M. bovis. No lesions suggestive of bovine tuberculosis were found during post mortem inspection. More females than males appear to have M. bovis antibodies (p<0.005). Also cattle of ages between 24-48 months had the highest prevalence in relation to age groups (P<0.005). Four breeds of cattle were encountered during this work although representation was determined by the sampling method. Sokoto Gudali breed had the highest number of cases of bovine tuberculosis (P>0.005). This study indicate an increase (from 0.69% to 4.12%) in the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in the study area. The public health implications of this findings is that infected animals in the past have been slaughtered and consumed undetected; this will continue to be so long as the relevant authorities do not improve on the current methods of ante mortem screening animals for tuberculosis.

Keywords: Antibodies, Cattle, Prevalence, Post mortem examination, Slaughter, Sokoto, Tuberculosis