Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis among cattle slaughtered at Soroti Municipal Abattoir based on postmortem examination.

Abstract

The study on Bovine Tuberculosis (BTB) was-conducted in cattle slaughtered at Soroti Municipal Abattoir located in Soroti Municipality with the main objective of determining its prevalence, during this time, ante mortem mid postmortem inspections were carried out. A total of 245 cattle were inspected; their breed, sex and ages were recorded before slaughtering and of the total animals, 0.4%. (1/245) were found to be with tuberculous lesions especially in the lungs where as in other organs there were no changes observed. In cattle <2 years and 2-4 years, there were: no infection indicated 0% whereas cattle >4-7 years was 0.4%. Out of 22 cross breed inspected only 1 was positive with 4.54% prevalence and out of 223 zebu breed inspected all were negative with 0% prevalence and among the sex out of 140 males inspected non was positive arid it-indicated 0% whereas 105 females inspected only 1 was positive with 0.95% (Table 3.) This study demonstrated the prevalence of BTB in cattle slaughtered at Soroti municipal abattoir by routine post-mortem inspection to be 0.4%. Therefore, the carcass must be examined thoroughly to reduce the chances of transmission to humans who consume meat. It is recommended that integrated preventive approaches involving enhanced surveillance of the disease through establishment of standardized abattoirs well-equipped with laboratory facilities should be installed. Intensive meat inspection should be done-in other abattoirs to establish the disease prevalence in slaughtered cattle in the country to ensure food safety.