SURVEY OF TUBERCULOSIS AND TUBERCLE BACILLI IN FULANI HERDS, "NONO" AND SOME HERDSMEN IN ZARIA AREA, NIGERIA

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Date
1988-12
Authors
SHEHU, LADAN MOHAMMED
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Abstract
Mycobacteria are distributed all over the world with the exception of a few countries. Among die-eases produced by mycobacteria is tuberculosis, which is one of the most important zoonoses so far known to man. It is against this background that the present study was designed to explore further, the prevalence of these, organisms in Fulani herds and the environment in general, through tuberculin test survey of Fulani cattle, and to culturally examine fresh milk and sputum from such herds and market-based fermented milk, "nono". Of 732 heads of cattle in twenty selected herds in and around Zaria, 5-00 were screened for mycobacteriosis using the tuberculin test. Fifty nine (11.8%) heads of cattle were detected to be reactors, while 43(8.6%) and 398 (79.6%) were suspects and non reactore respectively. Only one herd had no reactors nor suspects. Amongst reactors, the incidence increased with age, with 6.9% reactors in the 0-1 year age group, while those over five years old had 28(20.9%) reactors. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05, X2), Management system had an effect on the incidence of tuberculin test reactors with purely nomadic animals showing a greater number of reactors (72.88%) than intensively (0.0%) and semi-inteneively (27.12%.) managed farms. Sex had no effect on rate of reactor rates as 13(11.4%) of 114 males and 46(11.9%) of 386 females were positive. The difference was not statistically significant (P> 0.05; X 2 ) . Out of the 90 fresh milk samples examined, only 1 (1.1%)was found to be presumptively positive for Mycobacterium species. Four (13.8%) of the 29 sputum samples examined from cattle milkers and herders were positive for the same organism. Eleven (4.2%) of 262 ready-to-drink market "nono" samples yielded mycobacteria. Of the 9 sputum samples from volunteer "nono" hawkers, 2(22.2%) yielded mycobacteria. The pH of "nono" and fresh milk had no effect on the frequency of isolation of mycobacteria from such sources. A total of 18 mycobacterial isolates were obtained from all samples tested, 11 of which were obtained from ready-to-drink fermented milk, "nono", 1 from fresh cow milk obtained directly from the udder, while 4 and 2 were from sputum samples of herders and volunteer "nono" hawkers respectively. The only typical Mycobacterium isolated, M. bovis. was cultured from fresh milk. The remaining 17 isolates obtained from "nono" and sputum were atypical. Of the atypicals isolated, 7 were Scotochromogenic, namely M. scrofulaceum (2 isolates), M. gortionae (aquae) (4) and M. flavescena (1). Six isolates were non-chromogenic, M. gastri (4) and M. triyiale (2); while the remaining 4 were rapid growers (Group IV) tentatively identified as M. smegmatis. It is concluded that mycobacteria are wide spread in Fulani herds, herders, fresh milk and fermented milk (nono) . sold in markets in Zaria and perhaps else where, and this may constitute a health hazard to families in close association with the animals and consumers of locally fermented milk ( nono ). It is imperative that good sanitary practices should be employed during preparation and marketing of "nono
Description
A thesis submitted to the Post Graduate School Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria in partial fulfilment for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. December, 1988.
Keywords
SURVEY,, TUBERCULOSIS,, TUBERCLE,, BACILLI,, HERDS,,, NONO",, HERDSMEN,
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