DETECTION OF MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS INFECTION IN GOATS AND SHEEP SLAUGHTERED AT FOUR ABATTOIRS IN JIGAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was carried out in the four abattoirs (Dutse, Gumel, Hadejia, and Kazaure) in Jigawa State Nigeria to determine the seroprevalence of Mycobacterium bovis infection in slaughtered goats and sheep and also assess the knowledge of butchers on tuberculosis and its zoonotic potential. A total of 176 blood samples were collected from 100 sheep and 76 goats and the plasma were screened using ID vet sandwich ELISA. Close-ended questionnaires were administered to butchers to assess their knowledge of Mycobacterium bovis infection and tuberculosis. From the results, the seroprevalence of Mycobacterium bovis in sheep was found to be 0.01% (1/100) with no positive reactors recorded in goats. Mycobacterium bovis was detected only in sheep slaughtered at the Hadejia abattoir with a prevalence of 3.4% (1/29) with no positive reactors recorded in goats and sheep slaughtered at other abattoirs. Prevalence based on sex indicated positive reactor in males (1.2%: 1/86) with no positive reactors in females. Sheep in the age group 2½ -3 years were found to be positive at 2.9% (1/34). Analysis of the questionnaires indicated that butchers have a low level of knowledge on zoonotic potential and ways of transmission and prevention of tuberculosis. The study has demonstrated the presence of M. bovis infection in sheep at the Hadejia abattoir with no positive reactors among the goats selected in the study. It has also indicated that butchers in the study areas have poor knowledge of M. bovis infection and the various ways of transmission and prevention. The detection of Mycobacterium bovis infection in sheep is suggestive of potential transmission to humans and calls for further investigation into the role of small ruminants in the epidemiology of human tuberculosis in the location. It is hereby recommended that ruminants (sheep and goats) should be screened for M. bovis infection at the abattoirs and butchers should be educated on the risk of the zoonotic potential of tuberculosis and its various ways of transmission and prevention.