A survey was conducted to determine the presence of bovine tuberculosis in two states of north eastern Nigeria, namely, Bauchi and Gombe States between February 2010 and November 2014 using caudal fold intradermal tuberculin skin test. A total of 5,489 cattle were screened using single caudal fold intradermal tuberculin test (CFT) in Bauchi and Gombe States. Of the 5,489 cattle, 2116 cattle were from 189 herds in five testing area in Bauchi State; and 3,373 cattle in 217 herds from five testing areas from Gombe State. On the basis of the caudal fold test (CFT), herd prevalence obtained were 56.08 % in Bauchi, and 55.29 % in Gombe State while the individual animal prevalence were 10.96 % in Bauchi and 13.73 % obtained in Gombe State. The prevalence based on the testing areas in Bauchi State, Alamari had the highest prevalence with 19.4 % and Disina the lowest with 9.0 %, while in Gombe State, Wakaltu had the highest prevalence with 20.9 % and Poshereng the lowest with 8.0 %. Cows were more likely to have tuberculosis lesions than bulls (p=0.0035) in Bauchi State but there was no significant difference in Gombe State (p=0.166). But, a statistically significant association (P< 0.05) was observed among the cattle age groups with cattle ≥4 years having higher odds for tuberculin reactivity compared to those below the age of 4 years in Bauchi State only. There is the need to strengthen routine meat inspection and public health awareness programs on zoonotic nature of bTB among the abattoir workers and the herdsmen.
Key words: Bovine tuberculosis, Cattle herds, Caudal folds, Tuberculin Test, North-Eastern Nigeria
|
