Seasonal prevalence of Bovine Tuberculous lesions in cattle slaughtered in Yola abattoirs

Bovine tuberculosis is endemic in Nigeria. There is paucity of information on the prevalence of bovine tuberculous lesions in cattle slaughtered in Yola, Adamawa state. The annual prevalence and seasonal variation of bovine tuberculous lesions were assessed based on abattoir records of tuberculosis lesions from 2008 to 2012. The overall prevalence of bovine tuberculosis lesions from 2008 to 2012 ranges from 8.68% (6.03 – 11.33) in 2008 to 10.33% (8.63 – 12.03%) in 2012 with peak prevalence of 12.73% in 2011. Types of lesions were not recorded systematically, however, lesions that were observed ranges from TB granuloma, TB abscesses with yellowish pus, caseous necrotic tubercles, multiple necrosis to focal granulomas. Annual prevalence of bovine tuberculosis lesions recorded in Yola abattoirs differ significantly (p ? 0.05). Prevalence of tuberculous lesions in Yola abattoirs was significantly influenced by season (p < 0.05). Tuberculosis is endemic in cattle slaughtered in abattoirs meant for human consumption in Yola, therefore humans are at risk of acquiring zoonotic tuberculosis through consumption of contaminated meat.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v11i2.19125 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2013). 11 (2): 113-120