Mycobacterial infections in carcasses of ruminants slaughtered at the two slaughterhouses of Kassala, Sudan

Abstract

SummaryTuberculosis (TB) is a chronic bacterial disease of humans and animals. It is characterized by the progressive development of specific granulomatous lesions in affected organs. Human TB is endemic in EasternSudan. However, knowledge on the epidemiology of TB in ruminants is scarce. In a six-month study from June to November 2014, a total of 2304 carcasses of cattle, sheep, goats and camels slaughtered at the East and West Gaash slaughterhouses of Kassala were inspected to investigate TB prevalence. Only 0.1% (n = 2) of the carcasses had suspicious TB lesions. These lesions were solely found in carcasses of sheep, in the liver, lungs, and peritoneal cavity. The samples collected from the lesions were investigated for the presence of mycobacteria, which were found in one of the two carcasses. The grown bacteria were subjected to a line probe assay (GenoType Mycobacterium CM), and to 16S rDNA and ITS gene sequencing, and whole genome sequencing (WGS). However, none of these methods identified this isolate as a valid Mycobacterium species. Nevertheless, 16S sequence allocated this isolate to slow growing mycobacteria. Neither Mycobacterium bovis nor M. caprae nor M. tuberculosis were found in the collected granulomatous lesions. In conclusion, the overall prevalence of TB-suggestive lesions in ruminants in Kassala was very low. Extended studies combining the use of a tuberculin skin test and slaughterhouse-based investigations should be adopted for TB surveillance in ruminants in Sudan.■ How to quote this article: Shuaib Y.A., Niemann S., Khalil E.A.G., Schaible U., Wieler L.H., Bakheit M.A., Mohamed-Noor S.E., Abdalla M.A., Richter E., 2017. Mycobacterial infections in carcasses of ruminants slaughtered at the two slaughterhouses of Kassala, Sudan. Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop.,

Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Mycobacterium bovis in Slaughtered Cattle Carcasses in Burkina Faso; West Africa

“…In livestock species other than cattle, 1.07% of the small ruminants and 0.7% of the pigs investigated at Bobo-Dioulasso slaughterhouse had bTB suggestive lesions [ 25 ]. In countries in Africa, e.g., Morocco, Algeria, Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia, the prevalence of visible gross bTB suggestive lesions was found to be as high as 5.2% [ 19 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. By using other bTB-specific diagnostic methods, our study detected a high regional prevalence in Oudalan well in line with the results of a previous regional assessment [ 34 ].…”

“…Antemortem and postmortem inspections were performed according to the standard procedure described elsewhere [ 19 , 20 ]. Briefly, all animals were collectively and individually examined.…”

“…Samples were collected from lymph nodes, tissues and organs, and muscles of the carcasses with bTB suggestive lesions by using sterile surgical scalpels and scissors [ 19 ]. Around 70 g was taken from each bTB suggestive lesion and placed in a sterile container, which was properly labeled and placed in an ice box for transportation to the National Laboratory of Veterinary Services in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where samples were frozen at −4 °C until transportation to the National Reference Center for Mycobacteria in Borstel, Germany.…”