Epidemiological Study on Bovine Tuberculosis in Boran Breeds Cattle at Yabello District, Southern, Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted at Yabello district, Southern Ethiopia from December 2009 to April 2010 with the aim of an epidemiological survey of Bovine tuberculosis through different diagnostic approach Comparative Intradermal Tuberculin test (CIDT), Questionnaire survey, Abattoir inspection, Bacteriological, and Histopathological examination on animals presenting in the study area. A retrospective study of human TB cases recorded at Yabello Hospital over a six-year (2004-2009) period was also analyzed to determine the significance of the extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) form of human TB in the district. During the study period, 790 heads of local Boran breed cattle were included among which 540 heads of cattle were subjected for the CIDT test, while the remaining 250 heads were subjected only for abattoir inspection. The prevalence of gross tuberculous lesion positive samples was 16.4%. These samples were again collected for Ziehl Neelsen acid-fast stain and histopathological examination. The result of Ziehl Neelsen acid-fast stain has indicated that, 19.5% positive and 80.5% negative. There was a statistically significant association between the occurrence of the lesions and body condition score (BCS) (χ2=10.903, P=0.006). On the other hand, the result of the CIDT test has revealed 1.3% positive, 7.2% suspected, and 91.5% negative. All selected traits (sex, Age. BCS, and origin of the animal) measured with the PPD test did not show a statistically significant difference among the categories (p>0.05). Besides, a questionnaire survey conducted on 23 households of animal owners indicated that 95.7% had the habit of raw milk consumption. A retrospective study of human TB cases recorded for six years revealed that there was a 13.76% proportion of EPTB forms. The prevalence of BTB in the study area is slightly high when compared with the previous study. However, it needs further investigation and surveillance to explore the control and prevention methods of BTB and its zoonotic importance which requires the awareness of the population on the management of the disease and associated risk factors.