This study was aimed to record gross lesions suggestive of bovine tuberculosis amongst cattle slaughtered in Gusau abattoir Zamfara State, Nigeria. A total of 3690 bovine carcasses were inspected from April to June, 2014. The results of the postmortem inspection detected tuberculosis-like lesions in 226 (6.1%) carcasses; 126 (56%) of the lesions observed were restricted to the organs/tissues of thoracic cavity and its associated lymph nodes, while 100 (44%) were seen in the organs/tissues of the abdominal cavity and reproductive tract of the carcasses. The organ encountered with most lesions was lungs; 90 (39.82%) out of the 226 lungs from carcasses observed with lesions. The individual animal prevalence was significantly affected by both age (χ2 = 4.723, p = 0.000) and sex (χ2 = 4.457, p = 0.000). For animal level risk, a strong statistically significant association was recorded between age (OR = 2.614, C.I. = 1.223 – 3.831) and sex (OR = 2.164, C.I. = 1.223 – 3.831); age and sex were predictive of bovine TB pathology. Breed prevalence was found to be 129 (57.1%) for White Fulani, 78 (34.5%) for Sokoto Gudali, and 19 (8.4%) for Red Bororo respectively. This study has for the first time recorded macroscopic lesions compatible with bovine TB; which suggests its possible prevalence in the study area. Postmortem inspection could be applied in the control and eradication of bovine TB and prevent its transmission to humans; in depth study is needed to better ascertain the true cause(s) of TB-like lesions in the area.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a zoonotic disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) that primarily affects cattle, but also other domestic and wild mammals. In Nigeria, abattoir monitoring of gross bTB lesions is the only control method being applied in all animals. This study aims to investigate tubercle bacilli infection in slaughtered cattle found with visible tuberculosis-like lesions. Lesions suggesting bTB were detected in 226 cattle during abattoir monitoring in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Tissue samples collected from the affected carcasses were subjected to Ziehl-Neelsen stain (ZN). Of the 226 carcasses with lesions, 37 (16.4%) were positive by the Ziehl-Neelsen stain (ZN), and MTBC was detected from 34 (91.9%) of the 37 ZN-positive samples. Molecular typing by region of difference (RD) deletion analysis revealed the genotype of Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium caprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Infection was most significantly associated with age of the animals (OR = 3.49; CI: 1.29-9.47 [p = 0.002]). The findings indicate a serious threat for health as well as for TB control in Nigeria.

Unfortunately the Abstract was missing in the original version of this article. The Abstract is published below.Abstract This study was aimed to record gross lesions suggestive of bovine tuberculosis amongst cattle slaughtered in Gusau abattoir Zamfara State, Nigeria. A total of 3690 bovine carcasses were inspected from April to June, 2014. The results of the postmortem inspection detected tuberculosis-like lesions in 226 (6.1%) carcasses; 126 (56%) of the lesions observed were restricted to the organs/tissues of thoracic cavity and its associated lymph nodes, while 100 (44%) were seen in the organs/tissues of the abdominal cavity and reproductive tract of the carcasses. The organ encountered with most lesions was lungs; 90 (39.82%) out of the 226 lungs from carcasses observed with lesions. The individual animal prevalence was significantly affected by both age (χ 2 = 4.723, p = 0.000) and sex (χ 2 = 4.457, p = 0.000). For animal level risk, a strong statistically significant association was recorded between age (OR = 2.614, C.I. = 1.223 -3.831) and sex (OR = 2.164, C.I. = 1.223 -3.831); age and sex were predictive of bovine TB pathology. Breed prevalence was found to be 129 (57.1%) for White Fulani, 78 (34.5%) for Sokoto Gudali, and 19 (8.4%) for Red Bororo respectively. This study has for the first time recorded macroscopic lesions compatible with bovine TB; which suggests its possible prevalence in the study area. Postmortem inspection could be applied in the control and eradication of bovine TB and prevent its transmission to humans; in depth study is needed to better ascertain the true cause(s) of TB-like lesions in the area.The online version of the original article can be found at https://doi

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